Vaccine for medical staff an ‘ethical and professional obligation’
I WRITE in response to Dr Debra Wilson (Letters, 21.10.21), challenging the government mandate for healthcare and education workers to be fully vaccinated against Covid19. I admire her boldness in confronting an ethically challenging issue, and her reasoned approach to it. However, as a fellow doublevaccinated medical practitioner, I would like to propose two rebuttals to her argument.
First, the government mandate merely follows suit to the expectations of our regulatory authority, the Medical Council of New Zealand, who have stated they ‘‘have an expectation that all dental and medical practitioners will take up the opportunity to be vaccinated — unless medically contraindicated’’. Thus, even without a government mandate I doubt that being nonvaccinated would continue to be in keeping with our ‘‘ethical and professional obligation to protect and promote the health of patients and the public’’.
Second, Dr Wilson’s argument refers to the importance of voluntary consent for any medical procedure, without undue pressure or coercion. However, I believe a precedent has already been set in this regard stretching all the way back to when we started our undergraduate medical training. Prior to commencing medical school, we were required to demonstrate immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, and tuberculosis, and if immunity was not proven, topup vaccinations were required. The Covid19 immunisation mandate would therefore appear to simply be an addition to these requirements, being applied urgently as we face a current pandemic.
Consultant Ophthalmologist
IT is refreshing to see two doctors’ concerns on the vaccine mandate in order to enjoy the full freedom in a postlockdown New Zealand (ODT, 20.10.21). We in New Zealand consider freedom to choose as a given, but only when we visit or live in some of the other 195 countries in the world, we recognise the value and importance of freedom, especially the freedom to choose!
Mosgiel
OUR daughterinlaw in Scotland, doublejabbed as is our son, had to have a Covid19 test as she had been in close contact with a friend who hadn't been vaccinated and didn't tell her so. This friend then got Covid19, as did our daughterinlaw who has been very ill this week. Our two grandchildren, aged 10 and 8, also had to get tested. One came back positive, the other negative so they both had to have the PCR test which was positive for both. At this time our son was working away from home and when he returned he had to isolate elsewhere.
Real proof that children are at risk. I hope the antivaxxer teachers take note and stop complaining about having to leave their jobs. The unvaccinated certainly shouldn't be teaching or around children. Yes, you have rights, but where is the responsibility.
Christchurch