Abstract
This chapter focuses on the implementation of vaccine mandates in the Caribbean. In particular, it assesses whether the use of vaccine mandates may be justified in the Caribbean given the current public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter will outline the legal and policy considerations and resulting implications that ought to be examined by Caribbean governments wishing to implement vaccine mandates in its fight against COVID-19. This will be done by firstly establishing a framework for evaluating current policies and legislation on vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, these instruments will be assessed against the social and economic realities being faced by citizens impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as any international best practices, protocols, or treaties that are to be observed by Caribbean governments.
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Notes
- 1.
Article 15 of the ECHR provides for a derogation from human rights standards where there is “war or public emergency threatening the life of a nation”. Article 4 of the ICCPR also makes reference to a “public emergency which threatens the life of the nation”. Article 27 of the ACHR refer to a “war, public danger, or other public emergency which threatens the independence or security of a State Party”.
- 2.
This is also known as proportionality stricto sensu.
- 3.
Article 1 of the International Health Regulations defines PHEIC as an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease which may require a coordinated international response.
- 4.
Article 3 of the International Health Regulations.
- 5.
Ibid.
- 6.
The Constitution of Jamaica, 1962, sec.13(2).
- 7.
This includes the 2009 swine flu declaration, the 2014 polio declaration, the 2014 Ebola declaration, the 2016 Zika declaration, and the 2018 Kivu Ebola declaration.
- 8.
Solomakhin v Ukraine, Application no. 24429/03.
- 9.
Ibid.
- 10.
Surai and Others v Attorney General, CV 2020-01370.
- 11.
Shirlanne Sacha Singh v Minister of National Security, CV 2020-02707.
- 12.
Takeisha Clairmont v Minister of Health and Attorney General, CV2020-03855.
- 13.
World Health Organization, “Ten threats to global health in 2019”, https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019.
- 14.
Johns Hopkins Medical, “Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/is-the-covid19-vaccine-safe.
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Cammock-Graham, N. (2023). Public Policy in a COVID-19 Era: The Cost of Self-Autonomy. In: Roberts, S., DeShong, H.A.F., Grenade, W.C., Devonish, D. (eds) Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Covid-19 and the Caribbean, Volume 1. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30889-5_23
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