“We can’t leave anything to chance,” said Chris Hipkins, who is both education minister and corona crisis management in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s cabinet, on Monday. That is why vaccination will be compulsory for certain occupational groups.
Vaccinations the most effective remedy for infections
“Vaccinations remain our strongest and most effective tool to protect us against infections and diseases,” emphasized Hipkins.
According to the new regulations, doctors, nurses and other health care workers must be vaccinated twice against the coronavirus by December 1. People in the education sector who have direct contact with students have until January 1st to fully immunize themselves.
Secondary schools are required to keep a database on the vaccination status of their students. A decision on a possible vaccination requirement at universities is still pending.
New Zealand has been largely isolated from the rest of the world since the beginning of the pandemic. Until a delta eruption in August, life for New Zealanders was almost normal for months. With its zero covid strategy, the island nation was seen worldwide as a role model in the fight against corona. Since the spread of the Delta variant, the government has taken a new approach to combating the coronavirus. In August the country imposed a nationwide lockdown.