The Premium Debate: Subscribers have a say on the teacher vaccine mandate

Rangiuru School is set to lose its principal, a teacher and three other staff when the vaccine mandate comes into effect. Photo / George Novak

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Rangiuru School is set to lose its principal, a teacher and three other staff members when the education vaccination mandate kicks in this month.

If educators can't respect the need for society to have some rules to keep everyone safe, then we don't want them educating our children.
- Duncan M

Two problems. The freedom not to vaccinate does not convey a freedom to enhance the risk of infecting their pupils. If they do not wish to be vaccinated, fine, but please stay at home. A disregard for the science behind vaccination and public health measures should disqualify them from teaching anyway.
- Peter C

While I fully support the principal's decision to make his own choice over the vaccine, I also support the vaccine mandate for teachers. In the same way teachers need to be registered, they also need to be fully vaccinated in order to protect vulnerable students who are unvaccinated. No jab, no job.
- Ron P

It is about protecting children who can't be vaccinated yet. It's not about choice.
- Mark X

No jab no job - it's simple. Educated people should know better.
- Noel M

In reply to Noel M: It is concerning that the numerous teachers who will be forced out of their jobs on the 16th will be the ones who are steadfast in their convictions and critical in their analysis. They will be replaced by the staff who could not get jobs on the open market.
- Bk W

In reply to Bk W: No one likes being mandated to do something. However, in my opinion, if a teacher can look at the data around the risk from Covid and risk from the vaccine, then conclude that it is a sensible decision not to get the vaccine, then there are serious flaws in their critical analysis. Those who chose to quit teaching over it will be enhancing the quality of our education system.
- Simon Y

I suspect this is brinkmanship - I would put money on it that the principal will be in the same job next year.
- Ga C

I'm vaccinated, along with a huge amount of other Kiwis now. But this is now going too far, with the mandates and the passports. It's becoming too totalitarian for my liking. I am not comfortable being in a society where we are almost excited to tell people 'you cannot earn a living unless you get these jabs'. Teachers and health professionals, with a wealth of experience and years of service, will go. A small portion, yes, but we have the vaccination rates to open up and deal with Covid as a nation. Same with the fire service - do you really care when your house is burning down if they are vaccinated or not?
- Todd H

In reply to Todd H: The fire service is often the first responder to medical emergencies. Do you want the person responding to your grandmother with a broken hip to be infected with Covid? It's really no different to expecting ambulance staff and doctors to be vaccinated.
- Faye C

Regardless of your view on vaccines, you have to admire professionals who are willing to stand up for what they believe is right. It's very courageous to stand against the prevailing narrative. This mandate is excessive and beyond the scope of what is fair. The ends do not justify the means.
- Taylor S

In reply to Taylor S: Let us think of a comparison with our right to drive our private vehicles on public roads. You have paid for the roads with your taxes. You have paid for the car with your money. Surely you have a right to use your car on the roads you have paid for? No. You need a driver's licence to prove that you will not be a hazard to others.
You must also use a seat belt. The acquiring and use of this seat belt, when first mooted in the 60s, caused huge ructions. "It is my right in my car, my body, to do as I see fit". Yeah ,right. It became mandated when the public had to pay all the medical bills.
- Alexander M

Does this mean they will go on benefit and taxpayers will pay them to stay at home?
- Anaru B

- Republished comments may be edited at the editor's discretion.