Lindeners block McKenzie/Wismar bridge in vaccine protest

After nurses, doctors and other staff members of the Linden Hospital were blocked again today from entering the facility because they are unvaccinated against COVID, other citizens of the town came out in support of them and moved the protest from the hospital to the bridge over the Demerara River in the town, halting traffic from both ends.

Lindeners block McKenzie/Wismar bridge in vaccine protest

Scores of Lindeners started a protest in their town this morning, blocking the critical McKenzie/Wismar bridge in support of the unvaccinated nurses and doctors who have been barred from entering their workplace.

After nurses, doctors and other staff members of the Linden Hospital were blocked again today from entering the facility because they are unvaccinated against COVID, other citizens of the town came out in support of them and moved the protest from the hospital to the bridge over the Demerara River in the town, halting traffic from both ends.

Some of those who gathered said they are in full support of the hospital staff being given a choice about whether or not to take the vaccine and not being forced to take it.

“It is not mandatory so why are they locking them out from their jobs”, one protester shouted. The Linden residents said they are not in support of the other measures that have been implemented by the Government which bars unvaccinated people from visiting any government office without a previous appointment.

As more persons gathered to join the protest, Apostle Nigel London who operates a church in the community and who has been leading protests against mandatory vaccinations said the citizens of Linden should not be taken for granted and they must not be forced to subject themselves to take a vaccine if they do not want to.

He said the nurses and doctors have been at the frontline since the pandemic began and now they are being treated differently because they have not taken the vaccine.

Regional Chairman Deron Adams spoke to the protesters and the locked-out hospital staff. He said while he understands the importance of protecting one’s self against the pandemic, the rights of citizens must not be trampled on.

Adams said the Government needs to find a better way to convince citizens to get vaccinated. He sees the current action by the Government as bullyism.

Back at the hospital, the Management did not budge on its position that all persons entering the facility should be vaccinated.

A number of mothers and their newborns who had clinic appointments for today were turned away because the mothers were unvaccinated.

The Region 10 residents intend to continue their protest action and they are calling on the government to rethink its vaccination policy.

Region 10 has the lowest vaccination rate in the country with less than 20% of residents vaccinated against COVID-19.

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