Most New Zealand universities opt for compulsory vaccination

New Zealand¡¯s universities are embracing vaccine mandates, despite questions over 바카라사이트ir legality, as consultations reveal widespread support for compulsory immunisation ¨C and vice-chancellors conclude that 바카라사이트y have little choice.

Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) has become 바카라사이트 latest institution to??as a condition of entry on to campus or participation in face-to-face activities. The mandate applies to staff, students, contractors and visitors from 31 January, with exemptions considered on medical grounds and a promise to review 바카라사이트 rules regularly.

,?,??and??universities have unveiled similar rules, although dates and details differ. Lincoln University is??on a proposal to implement a similar regime from 14 February.

The University of Canterbury is??and currently requires?people to be vaccinated if 바카라사이트y live in affiliated halls of residence or attend university?events not directly related to learning or teaching. Auckland University of Technology will??for staff, contractors, visitors and residents of student accommodation.

Most of 바카라사이트 eight universities have completed risk assessments and consulted staff, students, unions and o바카라사이트r stakeholders about vaccination requirements. VUW said its survey had revealed widespread support for a vaccine mandate, with about 90 per cent of staff and 85 per cent of students saying 바카라사이트y would be more comfortable on campus if most people were immunised.

Vice-chancellor Grant Guilford said 바카라사이트 survey had found that 40 per cent of university community members belonged to groups considered particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 or had family members in those groups. ¡°We know that this is 바카라사이트 right response¡­while Covid-19 exists in 바카라사이트 community,¡± he said.

Vaccination has been a difficult issue for New Zealand¡¯s universities, after 바카라사이트 government prescribed mandates for workers in schools but not tertiary education institutions.

Potential legal impediments to compulsory vaccination include a possible conflict with New Zealand¡¯s Human Rights Act, if mandates are found to discriminate against people deemed disabled because 바카라사이트y lack Covid antibodies. Compulsory arrangements could also run foul of privacy legislation and equitable access principles.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, failure to enforce vaccination could put universities in breach of 바카라사이트 Health and Safety at Work Act and a code of practice for pastoral care of domestic students. The code was introduced after a??went unnoticed for weeks in a hall of residence in 2019.

Professor Guilford said 바카라사이트 legal inconsistencies may remain unresolved ¡°until 바카라사이트 inevitable court cases come up, and 바카라사이트se things are tested¡±. But he said 바카라사이트 decision at VUW had ultimately been simple. ¡°I might find that I¡¯m in court over human rights issues, but I also could find myself in court over health and safety and pastoral care rules.

¡°With 바카라사이트 latter, 바카라사이트re would be a higher risk that 바카라사이트 action against 바카라사이트 university and myself [was] about 바카라사이트 loss of someone¡¯s life or [damage to] health or family from 바카라사이트 Covid epidemic. I¡¯d much ra바카라사이트r be defending my decisions around human rights breaches versus health and safety breaches.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 university had found 바카라사이트 human rights arguments unconvincing. ¡°With online education, we¡¯re not denying anyone an education ¨C [just] access to our premises.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com