Gaza wants proof of Kartel’s vaccination

Vybz Kartel's Gaza nation is unconvinced that he has taken the COVID-19 vaccine, despite his lawyer, Isat Buchanan, indicating that the Worl' Boss was given his first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine last Friday.

Vybz Kartel, who is an inmate at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre, is serving a life sentence for murder. However, despite being behind bars for the past 10 years, he has consistently topped streaming numbers and has remained one of the hottest artistes in the dancehall space.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton recently told THE STAR that he not only hoped the Worl' Boss would take the shot but that people would be influenced by his decision.

"There is no doubt that Vybz Kartel is an influencer, with many fans throughout the country. For his protection, I would like him to take the vaccine and if he can influence others to take it that would be good. I would be willing to work with the penal system to explore how it could be done," Tufton said two weeks ago.

However, it does not appear that Kartel's decision to get vaccinated will result in vaccine-hesitant Jamaicans, many of them his hardcore fans, taking the jab.

"Kartel rather take a Maxine than a vaccine. Di teacher nuh take no vaccine because just like how dem show when the PM and di other government people take theirs, mi would expect dem to do di same for him. Even if dem did show him tattoo hand, mi would be more convinced. Dem just know say di man influential and a use him name to promo dem campaign ting. Dem can't trick we over here suh," said a resident of 'Gaza', located in the deejay's community of Waterford, St Catherine.

A group of men, who were gathered under a tree, said they do not believe media reports that Vybz Kartel had taken the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Mi nuh convince say di teacha take the vaccine none at all and mi nah make the government trick mi. Dem just know say if dem say Kartel take it, then everybody a go wah take it too," another man said.

Jamaicans have been wary to take the COVID-19 vaccine, which health officials said offers the best hope of ending the pandemic. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported more than 300 cases of adverse impact related to the country's inoculation programme. Persons in Gaza told THE STAR that they are concerned about the safety of the vaccines.

"Mi wah know who mi people dem can sue if mi take the jab and dead. If mi dead all mi ancestors dem a guh come fi dem enuh, so dat show yuh say it nuh stop right yah suh," one man said.

Another said: "If mi know say when mi take it mi will get a work then mi will consider taking the vaccine. All a di injection dem whe mi use to get when mi a pickney, mi never have nuh control over it, but mi have control over mi life now suh mi nah take it."

Yet another said that he is willing to take the shot, but only after the winter season has passed.

"Mi a watch and see how much Jamaicans whe take the vaccine dead over the cold period because dem say COVID act up more during cold time. If the vaccinated people dem survive, well then, mi will take it, " he said.