The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is addressing the non- recognition of vaccinated Jamaicans by the United Kingdom.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith confirmed that the vaccination status of Jamaican nationals, is not being recognized in the United Kingdom and that some nationals have already been impacted by this development.

In a statement today (September 20), the Foreign Affairs Ministry says its further understood that in addition to the UK‘s traffic light system, under which Jamaica is classified as amber, the UK has only recognized the vaccination programmes of a few countries, such as the member states of the European Union.

The Foreign Affairs Minister explains that she brought the issue of the treatment of vaccination programmes to the attention of Caricom for action last week and has engaged the UK government on the issue at the technical level.

Mrs. Johnson –Smith says additionally, she will also raise the matter in the upcoming bilateral meeting with the UK, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly this week.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also indicates that the stoplight travel status is a function of vaccination numbers, hospitalizations, variants and related considerations in Jamaica.

The statement notes that there is some lack of clarity on the specific formula, but it is quite clear that these circumstances need to be improved.

The minister shares that an expanded UK list of programmes has already been determined for October and while the process is relatively new, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has requested data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness to assist the UK government in the review of Jamaica’s vaccination programme.

The Foreign Affairs Minister concludes that, the travel status of the country is another reason all should be vaccinated in order to reduce the spread of Covid 19, serious illness, hospitalization and the development of variants.