The vaccine mandate deadline for schools, health and disability sectors has passed. Photo / Getty
The vaccine mandate deadline for schools, health and disability sectors has passed. Photo / Getty
Most Bay of Plenty schools face losing staff from today as the Covid-19 vaccine mandate deadline passes, a leading principal says.
From today, anyone who is in contact with children in an educational setting has to have had their first vaccination or they will not be allowed on school grounds.
A similar mandate also applies to the health and disability sectors. Both require workers to have had their first jab by yesterday .
Western Bay of Plenty Principals' Association president Suzanne Billington said the exact number of staff who may lose their jobs would not be known until the final numbers were submitted after the deadline passed, she said.
Billington said looking forward, vaccine status would be a factor in recruitment and would also dictate what events and trips pupils could go on.
Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association president Suzanne Billington. Photo / File
"Parents who are normally fully involved may not be because they aren't vaccinated ... in primary [schools], it's very much parent support, with whatever's happening with the kids."
"It's hard ... it creates divisions in families and schools were no different."
She said people were on both sides of the argument and people tend to not talk about it in the staff room.
"It's really emotional. It's creating quite a bit of anxiety in schools at the moment."
She said most parents were "sympathetic and understanding" of the "difficult" circumstances schools were in.
"Parents understand that schools don't have a choice around this and we have to follow a health order and Ministry of Education guidelines.
She said it would be "quite difficult" for parents that were fully involved in their child's schooling but no longer could as a result of a decision to not be vaccinated.
Rangiuru School indicated earlier this month that its principal, a teacher and three other staff members would not get the vaccine even if it meant losing their jobs.
One early childhood education (ECE) centre in Tauranga — Nestlings Preschool in Bethlehem — has already shut due to the mandate.
NZEI Bay of Plenty early childhood education (ECE) representative Reweti Elliot said it was a "highly stressful" situation in the already short-staffed sector.
The sector had recently faced protests regarding the lack of staff and poor ratios and said there were about 600 vacancies nationwide that could not be filled.
He said the real impact of the mandate would become apparent over the next fortnight, with staff from the education sector given a "grace period" of two weeks to work from home and get their vaccine.
"We'll see how it's going to affect our sector, which is already in dire straits," he said.
"Now we've got cases in Rotorua and Taupo ... It becomes quite stressful keeping ourselves safe, our bubbles safe, and the children safe."
Rotorua Principals Association president Gary Veysi felt the region was in a "really good position" after discussing the vaccine mandate with about 30 Rotorua principals last week at an association meeting.
Rotorua Principals Association president Gary Veysi. Photo / Supplied
It was also attended by the Ministry of Education, NZEI and New Zealand School Trustees Association.
Veysi said the "majority" of principals reported they were not losing any staff to the mandate, but there was some concern expressed from principals at rural schools.
He said about 20 principals were unable to attend the meeting, and the principals association was contacting them to check if support was needed.
Ministry of Education operations and integration leader Sean Teddy said no schools in the region had applied for an exemption to the mandate, and it did not hold staff vaccination status.
Four schools in the country applied for exemptions, which are currently being assessed.
He said the ministry was working with school and kura leaders in the region who anticipated they may "experience some disruption".
"We will continue to work intensively with those few schools who have indicated they need further support."
He said the ministry had "established processes" for addressing supply challenges which will be developed further where necessary.
According to the Education Gazette, there were 109 job vacancies in the Bay of Plenty as of yesterday.
Health sector mandate
As of last Monday, about four per cent of Bay of Plenty District Health Board had not had their first vaccination but the DHB was confident it would be able to cope from today.
It's understood an update on DHB staff vaccinations will be released later this week.
All Resident Medical Officer members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association were vaccinated, a spokeswoman said.
She said health boards were better placed to comment on what impact the vaccine would have on the sector.
The New Zealand Medical Association said in a press release it believed all doctors should be vaccinated.
