November 15 the jab deadline for Gisborne school staff

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

All staff at Gisborne's schools must get their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by November 15.

But schools are saying the vaccination status of any staff member is a “privacy matter”.

Kaiti School principal Billie Jean Potaka Ayton said the school's staff had responded positively to the directive for all staff to be vaccinated “with a few requesting further information to do their due diligence”.

She said the school would be hosting a vaccination clinic on site next Friday, November 5, with the support of Ngati Porou Hauora and Horouta whānaunga Whanau Ora.

“This clinic will provide those parents who would like their children 12 years and older to be vaccinated to do so.

“We also welcome all Kaiti whānau to come to the school hall who would like to take up this opportunity to receive their vaccination as well. We will be providing kai and refreshments.”

Wainui Beach School principal Nolian Andrew said she supported the mandatory vaccination of staff at schools “to keep our tamariki and wider whānau safe”.

Campion College principal Paul McGuinness said the mandatory vaccination was a health order and “all schools are obliged to follow it”.

“The vaccination of individual staff is a privacy matter and I am not able to comment further on it.”

Gisborne Girls' High School principal Jan Kumar said the mandatory vaccination was a public health order and all staff had to comply with it.

“However, the status of any individual staff member is a privacy matter.”

Many other Gisborne schools were contacted multiple times but have not responded.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced on October 11 that from January 1 next year, schools and early learning services and providers will need to maintain a register, and ensure only vaccinated staff and support people have contact with children and students.

Minister Hipkins said staff needed to have their first dose by November 15.

“This includes home-based educators, and all those support people in our schools and early learning services such as teacher-aides, administration and maintenance staff and contractors.

“Secondary schools and kura will also be required to keep a Covid-19 vaccination register for students. Students who do not produce evidence of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated.

“All school employees in Auckland and other Alert Level 3 regions will be required to return a negative Covid-19 test result before they can return to work onsite.”

Minister Hipkins said those who were not fully vaccinated in the period leading up to January 1, 2022 would also be required to undergo weekly Covid-19 testing. “Work is continuing on whether mandatory vaccinations will be required in the tertiary education sector.”