keep a register to show the vaccination status of students. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, who is also the Education Minister, has just revealed Cabinet’s decision on mandatory vaccinations for workers in the education and healthcare sectors.
He stated that “It’s not an easy decision, but we need the people who work with vulnerable communities who haven’t yet been vaccinated to take this extra step, Exemptions may be possible under some circumstances.”
Healthcare workers will have to be fully vaccinated by December 1 this year, and will need to have had their first dose by October 30.
The public health order requiring this will include general practitioners, pharmacists, community health nurses, midwives, paramedics, and all healthcare workers in sites where vulnerable patients are treated (including Intensive Care Units).
“These requirements also include certain non-regulated healthcare work, such as aged residential care, home and community support services, kaupapa Māori health providers and NGOs who provide health services,” Hipkins said.
All staff at schools and ECEs who have contact with children and students will need to have a first dose by November 1, and to be fully vaccinated by January 1.
Hopkins continued to say that “This includes home-based educators, and all those support people in our schools and early learning services such as teacher-aides, administration and maintenance staff and contractors, Secondary schools and kura will also be required to keep a Covid-19 vaccination register for students. Students that do not produce evidence of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated.”
