Stellenbosch University (SU) has assembled a task team to investigate the possibility of making vaccinations mandatory across the university’s campuses.
On 27 September, the SU council deliberated on the possibility of making vaccinations mandatory in all faculties, said Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson, in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
The university has since appointed a task team “that assesses the risks of various categories of staff and students and their different tasks and interaction on campus”, said Prof Stan du Plessis, chief operating officer at SU, in written correspondence with MatieMedia. This will inform any proposed vaccine policy, he added.
“If a vaccine policy is adopted, it will apply to all SU staff and students, but may specify a differentiated application for particular circumstances; for example, allowance of particular co-morbidities,” said Du Plessis.
If a policy is established, the terms and conditions for that policy will be established at the same time, said Du Plessis.
Petitioning for health
Meanwhile, two petitions started by staff members from within the university have been getting thousands of votes online in favour of a mandatory vaccination policy.
The vice-dean of the faculty of arts and social sciences at SU, Prof Pieter Fourie, started a petition requesting that SU implement a policy that makes vaccinations mandatory for staff and students, according to the change.org website.
The petition was started on 16 September, and by the time of writing has gained more than 5500 signatures.
The dean of the faculty of arts and social sciences at SU, Prof Anthony Leysens, told MatieMedia that he has signed the petition in support of mandatory vaccinations across the university’s campuses.
“My reason for supporting this campaign is primarily to ensure that our campus returns to a sense of normality as soon as possible. This virus is not going to go away, and the only way to effectively fight it is through a dedicated programme of vaccinations,” said Leysens.
Stellenbosch University (SU) is investigating the possibility of mandatory vaccinations for all staff and students on university campuses, according to Prof Stan Du Plessis, the SU chief operating officer. If vaccinations are made compulsory, it will apply to all SU staff and students. Terms and conditions will be established if such a policy is implemented, said Du Plessis. PHOTO: Kyra Rensburg
Calling all health professionals: go get vaccinated
The SU faculty of medicine and health sciences also started a petition regarding mandatory vaccinations, according to Prof Soraya Seedat, executive head of the department of psychiatry at SU, and one of the founders of the petition.
The change.org petition was started on 15 September, and supports the idea that all healthcare workers, staff and students at hospitals, clinics and universities across the country should be vaccinated and receive booster shots, said Seedat in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
“[Medical professionals] are high-risk by virtue of the fact that they work in high-risk environments. Unvaccinated, they pose a risk to patients, their colleagues and families,” said Seedat.
The petition was sent to Joe Phaahla, the national minister of health, “and other health officials in the national department of health, including the chair of the Covid Ministerial Advisory Committee”, on 28 September, said Seedat. With more than 2500 signatures, they hope a government policy will be passed in the next few weeks, she added.
Dr Therese Fish, the vice-dean of clinical services and social impacts at Stellenbosch University (SU), said that the SU faculty of medicine and health sciences took a stand against vaccine hesitancy by hosting a vaccination rally on 9 September at the SU medical campus. This was followed up by the founding of a petition on 15 September. The petition calls for vaccinations to be mandatory for all employees and students at healthcare facilities and medical campuses, said Prof Soraya Seedat, executive head of the department of psychiatry at SU, and one of the founders of the petition. AUDIO: Kyra Rensburg
“Healthcare workers have a key role in reducing the burden of the pandemic, role modelling for preventive behaviours, and also, helping vaccinate others. Individual liberties must end where collective responsibility begins,” said Seedat.
SU medical students will graduate soon and enter the workforce. Mandatory vaccinations will ensure that they enter a protected environment and keep those around them safe from infection, said Dr Therese Fish, the vice-dean of clinical services and social impacts at SU, and another founder of the petition.
“We also support the broader call for mandatory vaccinations for all the people of the country, but we would like to go into the fourth wave [of Covid-19] feeling more comfortable that our health workers and students are vaccinated,” said Fish.
A petition was recently launched by members of the Stellenbosch University (SU) faculty of medicine and health sciences, calling for vaccinations to be made mandatory for all employees and students at healthcare facilities and medical campuses before the fourth wave of Covid-19 hits, according to Prof Soraya Seedat, executive head of the department of psychiatry at SU. Students in the faculty of medicine and health sciences at SU have to work in hospitals and clinics as part of their training, according to Dr Therese Fish, the vice-dean of clinical services and social impacts at SU. They are exposed to many people, including children and the elderly, and therefore getting the Covid-19 vaccine protects them and their patients, added Fish. GRAPHIC: Kyra Rensburg