Mandatory vaccine zone?

The Barbados branch of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has responded to reports of a requirement that persons entering its offices at Maxwell Main Road, Christ Church must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

While the IDB’s Country Representative in Barbados, Vivianna Alva Hart was not specific about whether the reports were true, she pointed out that the bank was “carefully managing access…to its premises.”

Alva Hart said the financial institution supports the advice of global and local health authorities to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Accordingly, the IDB Group has been carefully managing access by anyone (employees, on-site contractors, and visitors) to its premises in its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and all 26 of its Country Offices in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Barbados), and its offices in Europe and Asia,” she told Barbados TODAY in response to a request for a comment on the reports.

The IDB executive said the safety and health of the group’s employees are its priority.

“The organisation has remained committed to a gradual return to the office while maintaining a flexible working scheme for all employees,” she added.

Barbados does not have a compulsory vaccination protocol in place. (EJ)