STUDENTS DEFEND RIGHT TO VACCINATE
STUDENTS are standing up for their right to get vaccinated, with or without the permission of their parents.
High-schoolers between the ages of 16 and 18 are supposed to get a signed waiver from their parents in order to receive the jab, but can get an exemption.
If their parents refuse to sign the consent waiver, students can invoke their right to a vaccination by approaching a nurse immuniser.
Taroona High School student Sam Eccleston said he knew of one such student whose parents were against them getting the vaccine, but who knew their own rights.
“Their parents had concerns about the vaccine that I do not subscribe to, but they were very strongly in favour of getting the vaccine and have booked in to get the vaccine themselves,” Sam said.
“If students’ parents aren’t willing for their children to get vaccinated for one reason or another, then students are still able to book in on their own behalf.”
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said they preferred it if the parents gave their consent, however the final say lay with the students.
“Students and parents/ guardians are strongly encouraged to discuss the vaccine beforehand and complete the consent form together, but in some circumstances students may be able to give their own consent following discussions with a nurse immuniser,” Mr Rockliff said.
The state government has indicated the same allowances will not be made for 12 to 15year-olds, who will require a consenting parent to be physically represent at the time of the jab.
Health Department secretary Kathrine MorganWicks said they planned to roll out jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds in October, in light of advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation handed down on Friday. “We will announce some details next week of super clinics we will run for our 12 to 15-year-olds in all regions from October,” Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
During the initial school rollouts, about 1000 students got the jab at Elizabeth and Claremont colleges during the first week. Taroona High’s
Lucian Beattie is not eligible for the vaccine, since he is currently 15 years old, but plans to get the jab the moment he becomes eligible.
“I know a couple of people in year 11 and 12 who’ve been vaccinated, and they feel happy they’ve been vaccinated,“Lucian said.
Sam said he was encouraging everyone to get the vaccine when they became eligible in order to keep Tasmania safe.
“We’ve seen in NSW and the ACT that young people are the most prone to spreading the Delta variant of coronavirus, so the fact that the government is making allowances so as many 16 and 18-year-olds can get vaccinated is really good.”
IF STUDENTS’ PARENTS AREN’T WILLING FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO GET VACCINATED … THEN STUDENTS ARE STILL ABLE TO BOOK IN ON THEIR OWN BEHALF
TAROONA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SAM ECCLESTON