Tatua backs away from Covid-19 vaccine mandates

A dairy company in Waikato has backed away from a staff vaccine mandate, while two others have or are proposing new policies for workers.

Staff at Tatua Co-Operative Dairy Company near Morrinsville were advised that despite the company’s support of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, staff do not need to be vaccinated to enter the workplace.

Tatua chief executive Brendhan Greaney told Stuff while there is compelling evidence that the vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalisation and serious Covid-19 complications, in the end, its decision was on the basis that the current vaccine does not prevent transmission sufficiently to justify a mandate.

‘‘In our decision, we have sought to be pragmatic and realistic about the benefit that mandating would actually have on reducing transmission of the current variant and what we know about the sub variant that is likely to follow,’’ Greaney said.

‘‘We’re not against it [mandates], we are just doing what we think is right for our business at this point in time.’’

Tatau has signalled it will revisit its position if the Covid-19 situation changes and the ‘‘vaccine is highly effective at preventing our people becoming infected, but we haven’t observed this to be the case overseas’’.

The company had a month-long consultation process with staff, and as expected, some people were for vaccinations and some against, Greaney said.

Tatua has multiple protocols in place to reduce the risk of transmission, including temperature checking, separation of workgroups, mask use and sanitisation, remote workers and the anticipated arrival of rapid antigen tests.

Greaney said Tatua will continue to promote the vaccine as the best means of not becoming seriously ill if infected.

It employs about 400 staff, with over 90 per cent vaccinated, including Greaney.

The WHO Technical Advisory Group of Covid-19 Vaccine Composition said vaccines were needed, and should be developed, that had high impact on prevention of Covid-19 infection and transmission, in addition to the prevention of severe disease and death.

More data was needed on vaccine effectiveness against Omicron, but indications from what was known so