New Zealand makes vaccination mandatory for port workers
Jacinda Adern says voluntary uptake of vaccine was not quick enough.
With no community coronavirus cases at all, New Zealand has taken steps to help it stay safe by making vaccination mandatory for all private-sector port workers.
New Zealand’s only risk from Coronavirus comes from cases caught at border checks and as it only needs to prevent reintroduction, a vaccination mandate is a logical step.
All government employees must have their first dose by August 26th and privately employed workers will need to have their first dose before starting work.
“I am extending the mandatory [vaccination] order to cover a further 1800 currently unvaccinated active border workers. This is necessary to lift the uptake of the vaccine among the wider border workforce and strengthen our ongoing response to Covid-19,” said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.
“As well as workers at managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, workers at our ports and airports who are at the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19 must now be vaccinated.”
