As vaccinations continue across the island, more stakeholders are on a mission to encourage citizens to take the covid19 vaccine – astrazeneca.
The Grenada hotel and tourism association is embarking on a campaign to educate the masses on the vaccine amid skepticism and concern.
The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association GHTA says it will provide a public education campaign in the coming weeks to support the Ministry of Health’s vaccination efforts.
The association believes through increased education regarding the pros and cons of vaccinations as well as being able to dispel myths and misconceptions, it can raise public confidence and awareness.
According to Chief Executive Officer of GHTA, Arlene Friday, there are mixed emotions among frontline tourism workers in regards to taking the vaccine. Some are cautious while others are excited to get vaccinated.
Friday believes if people are actively engaged and informed, the less skeptical they would be.
This will in turn give them the opportunity to more likely decide to get vaccinated. Friday said the GHTA have witnessed that as staff have gotten vaccinated and have communicated with their co-workers, there has been an uptick amongst once hesitant workers.
Pointing to an instance where there has been an increase of 85%- 100% of employees vaccinated.
President of the GHTA Leo Garbutt MBE says he has seen this happening.
As a result, the GHTA realized that public education is key.
Members of the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association are eager to get their team members back to work and to re-open closed hotels. According to Garbutt vaccinations provide a solution to safeguard both tourism workers and the Grenadian community while also provide a method to restart the tourism industry.
Ripple effects would be felt amongst restaurants, bars, dive shops, taxi and tour operators and the overall economy.
The association suggested that airlines may one day require proof of COVID- 19 vaccinations and may be the way of the future.
It is appealing to Grenadians to get better educated and prepared.
During the first week of vaccination record numbers of frontline workers had shown up to get vaccinated, the majority of whom were from the Tourism and Hospitality sectors.
Vaccinations are ongoing for persons eighteen years and over and people with underlying health conditions, while vaccines are available.
