No compulsory jabs for city uni students
BUT THEY ARE ‘ENCOURAGED’ TO TAKE UP VACCINATION OFFER
NOTTINGHAM’S universities have both said returning students and staff will be “encouraged” to get the Covid-19 vaccine – but it will not be made compulsory.
Students at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham will mostly be returning from the end of next month. Both universities have issued online guidance on how students – including those from abroad – can get a vaccination in the UK.
Those returning to the city for the start of the new term will be encouraged to visit walk-in vaccination centres such as thoser at King’s Meadow Campus and the Forest Recreation Ground.
People in the city centre gave a mixed reaction to the decision to not make vaccinations compulsory.
Tools and online resources have also been set up to answer any concerns members of the universities might have about the vaccine.
A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham said: “We are currently campaigning to support vaccinations across our student body, contacting students at their home and term-time addresses to encourage them to take up double vaccination as soon as it is offered.
“Students can receive vaccinations at their home addresses, our on-campus Cripps Health Centre and the vaccination centre which we host on our King’s Meadow Campus.
“Twice-weekly Covid-19 testing will be expected for all students and staff working on campus, using our in-house asymptomatic testing service, which simply requires a saliva sample, and the results are returned within 48 hours.”
To answer questions and concerns about the vaccine, students and staff at the University of Nottingham can access covidvaxfacts.info/ - a new website created to answer any concerns.
The website gathers information and evidence from independent experts working in the areas of immunology, vaccines and Covid19.
Professor Kavita Vedhara from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, has led the team that put together the website.
Nottingham Trent University has also confirmed that it will be encouraging all staff and students to get vaccinations although it will not be compulsory. Anyone going to campus is also encouraged to have twice-weekly lateral flow tests.
A statement on the NTU website reads: “We’re encouraging all our students to get their Covid-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible.
“There’s no need to book – you can simply turn up at any of the main vaccination sites without an appointment to receive your jab.
“Alternatively, you can book your vaccination at a specific time and location on the NHS website.”
One city student, Abigail Hotchkiss, 19, said: “It [the vaccine] should be compulsory unless you can’t get it.”
But resident Jenny Dove, a 43-year-old teacher, said: “I’m a little bit divided because I do think people should have the right to decide whether or not they want it.
“I understand that a lot of the people that work there might be vulnerable or susceptible to the virus and are double jabbed.
“So I appreciate maybe that the people that work there want students to be double jabbed but students might not choose to.”
Both universities have also said – in line with Government guidance – that wearing a face mask on-site would be down to personal judgement. However, there remains an expectation that face coverings should be worn in crowded indoor spaces, such as on public transport.
Steven Mellor, a 47-year-old selfemployed joiner, said: “My partner’s daughter is at Leeds University and she’s just had her first jab.
“I think it should be up to the individual, it should be the individual’s choice.”
Nottingham City Council’s Director of Public Health, Lucy Hubber, said: “Young people have been fantastic at taking up the vaccine offer, and there are higher rates of uptake in the student-age population (1924) than in people aged 25-40 in Nottingham. When international students return and their vaccination status is recorded, we expect this rate to increase further.
“The universities in the city have been incredibly proactive at working with us to encourage students to get vaccinated and have been regularly communicating with current and new students before term starts. We welcome the integration of a vaccine offer into fresher-week activities, so it will be very easy for unvaccinated students to get advice and make an informed choice to get vaccinated.”