New Zealand sets vaccination deadlines for doctors, community nurses and teachers

A health worker administers vaccinations at a mobile clinic in Auckland Image credit Yahoonews

 

 Most of New Zealand's health care workers and teachers will soon be legally required to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government has announced.

A new mandate compels doctors, pharmacists, community nurses and many other health care workers to be fully vaccinated by December. Teachers and other education workers must be fully vaccinated by January.

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said many in those professions had already gotten their jabs but authorities couldn't leave anything to chance, especially because those people deal with sick patients and young children who aren't yet approved for the vaccine themselves.