Students threaten protest over CMU vaccine mandate

A number of students who want to continue attending the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) in Kingston will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 following a new mandate expected to take effect in February. But already, there is pushback against the planned policy.

The CMU is seeking to resume face-to-face classes for three of its four faculties, noting in a circular to some staff members this week that the decision came after several assessments and consultations.

The university said that a decision has been made to effect a blended modality of teaching and learning for Semester Two of academic year 2021-2022.

It said face-to-face classes will resume for all students in the faculties of Marine and Nautical Studies, Engineering and Applied Technology, while face-to-face and online classes will be facilitated for the Centre for Security, Counter-Terrorism, and Non-Proliferation.

Online teaching modality will continue for students in the Faculty of Shipping and Logistics, the circular seen by The Gleaner indicated.

“All students involved in face-to-face classes must be fully vaccinated or have received their first shot to be able to attend these classes,” read the circular, which had the signature of Professor Noel Brown, vice-president of academic affairs and accreditation.

It did not communicate an option for frequent testing, nor did it state the consequence for non-compliance.

There was also no clause for exemption on the basis of health or religion.

CMU did not immediately provide a response to several Gleaner questions on Wednesday.

Approximately 3,500 full-time students attend the university, which focuses primarily on maritime and logistics education. Two thousand students participate in short courses throughout the year.

It is not clear, however, how many students are likely to be affected by the policy, but one who spoke to The Gleaner, on condition of anonymity, revealed that the action might trigger protests.

The student, who is part of the engineering faculty, said the official position of the university has not yet been communicated to the wider population, though the information had been circulating among groups.

“They are saying this is to protect students and staff, as if you can’t still catch it or pass it on. They are saying we must not come on campus unless we are vaccinated, which is quite ridiculous. Not everyone is for the vaccine,” the student argued.

Jamaica’s COVID-19 vaccination programme has been limping since March 10, 2021, when the first shots were administered. Just over 19 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated – the second-lowest per-capita compliance in the Caribbean.

The student told The Gleaner that there are cases involving parents who are against the jab and have communicated that they will not allow their children to get inoculated.

The student said the CMU’s decision is likely to set off a firestorm, as she and several other schoolmates are not prepared to withdraw from the institution over “an unnecessary” policy.

“If they push this on us, students plan to demonstrate. That is the talk all over, but we don’t reach there yet, because everything is for next year February,” the student said.

An unaffected student from the Faculty of Shipping and Logistics said that the university must take into account health and other issues when implementing a vaccine mandate.

“Some people’s body don’t ‘gree with it, and some people I know have had reactions to it. So you can’t just get up and say ‘face-to-face classes and you have to take it’, without thinking about people.

“ The next thing is that the Government don’t make it mandatory, so why you coming with it? Which other school you see with it?” the student challenged.

The student suggested that a blended modality be allowed for every faculty, giving students opposed to the jab the option of remaining online.

Another student said that the decision was sudden and does not afford them enough time to prepare for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“As a result of COVID, most students are cash-strapped and live in different parishes; and basically. We would have to find an apartment near school, which is a bit expensive in such a short time.

“Our voices are not being heard. No one is listening to us,” the student said.

The policy is expected to take effect months after The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, announced that students and staff wishing to live on campus must be vaccinated. Exemptions on the basis of health and religion were given.

Efforts by The Gleaner to ascertain the level of compliance ahead of the September 3 deadline issued proved futile, as The UWI said the data were not aggregated in the manner requested.

In October, the University of Technology, Jamaica told The Gleaner that at that time, mandatory vaccination was not being considered.

It said, however, that it would remain guided by the Government’s regulations and protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.