Please note: this page is not an official source of information for how schools, kura, kindergartens and early childhood centres should operate under the traffic light system. If any of the information on this page appears out of date or conflicts with official advice from the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education, please follow the official guidance. 

If you are and NZEI Te Riu Roa member and you need advice on a specific matter, please contact our Member Support Centre. You can find their hours and contact details here.

Vaccinations - Guidelines for Members

vaccinations

A note about vaccine mandates:

The police/defence mandate is in a different public health order (PHO) to that for education staff. The Order that covers education staff has already been challenged several times unsuccessfully. The PHO governing police and defence is mainly concerned with ensuring continuity of services that are essential for public safety. According to the Court, the PHO was not implemented for the purposes of limiting the spread of COVID-19 and health advice had been that it was not needed for this purpose.

This was not the case for the PHO governing mandatory vaccinations in the education sector. In line with public health advice to protect the health of tamariki and people working in education, NZEI TRR has supported the mandate in the education sector.

 

Who needs to be fully vaccinated

Taken from the COVID 19 website

At education sites, some people must be fully vaccinated to have contact with children and students.

This includes:

  • teachers

  • staff

  • home-based educators

  • every person aged 12 years and 3 months and over in the home where licensed home-based education and care takes place for children under 6 years old

  • support people in schools and early learning centres, including volunteers

  • teacher aides

  • administration and maintenance staff

  • contractors.

An on-site register must be kept.

NZEI Te Rui Roa will represent members who need employment support to be able to comply with this health order.

See these websites for the most up-to-date information on vaccination requirements for educators

Role Specific Guidance

Principals

Mandatory Vaccination Guidelines for Principals

Supplementary Advice for Principals on Mandatory Vaccinations

Updated Vaccine Exemption Advice for Principals

 

School Teachers and Support Staff

Mandatory Vaccination Guidelines for School Teachers and Support Staff

 

Early Childhood

Mandatory Vaccination Guidelines for Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten

Mandatory Testing Guidelines for ECE

 

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