Stuff Digital Edition

School at odds with clinic over pupil jabs

Cate Broughton cate.broughton@stuff.co.nz

An east Christchurch school principal says she is disappointed two students received a Covid-19 vaccine while skipping class with the promise of a $20 Pak’nSave voucher –but without parental permission.

The mother of one of the boys said she felt ‘‘like her heart had been ripped out’’ to not have been consulted.

Children aged 12-15-years-old are able to consent to a vaccination without parental permission – but advised to discuss it with wha¯ nau or a trusted support person first.

Haeata Community Campus principal Peggy Burrows said the boys left the school after assembly at about 1pm on Wednesday, October 20, and went to the Hampshire St shops for hot chips.

When staff became aware the pair had absconded, they notified wha¯ nau.

The boys, meanwhile, decided to get a Covid-19 vaccine at a pop-up clinic hosted by Aranui Community Trust.

Children aged 12 years and over can give consent to receive a Covid-19 vaccine under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights if the vaccinator believes they understand what is involved.

Police officers from an east Christchurch neighbourhood policing team were present to support the clinic in Hampshire St, Aranui.

The boys told Burrows that police encouraged them to get the vaccine and told them they could get a $20 Pak’nSave voucher for doing so.

‘‘The boys were vaccinated without permission, during school hours and then given a $20 Pak’nSave gift card,’’ Burrows said.

While she accepted police had not coerced the boys to get the vaccine, she was disappointed they did not return the boys to school as was the usual protocol.

Burrows said officers at the vaccine clinic had made a ‘‘huge error of judgment’’ in not returning the boys to school.

A parent of one of the boys, who did not want to be named, said she was distressed by the incident. She did not believe he had received adequate information about the vaccine, as required.

‘‘I just felt my rights as a mother had

‘‘The boys were vaccinated without permission, during school hours and then given a $20 Pak’nSave gift card’’ Peggy Burrows Haeata Community Campus principal

‘‘[Students] 12 and over can give their verbal consent for the vaccine as long as the vaccinator is confident the person is capable of making their own informed decision.’’ Melody Tuliau Pegasus Health Ma¯ori manager

been stripped away from me, I was so broken. I had no knowledge of the no parent consent.’’

The woman said the experience had undermined her trust in the Government and police.

However, Pegasus Health Ma¯ ori manager Melody Tuliau said her understanding was that the students came to the clinic by themselves and chose to get vaccinated.

‘‘[Students] 12 and over can give their verbal consent for the vaccine as long as the vaccinator is confident the person is capable of making their own informed decision.’’

Vaccinators assess a person’s ability to give their consent by asking questions about their understanding of the risks and benefits of having or not having the vaccine, Papanui GP Vanessa Weenink said.

Tuliau said parental or guardian consent was required for clinics at schools under Ministry of Education requirements.

Haeata Community Campus has been providing a Covid-19 clinic on Wednesdays from midday to 2pm.

Burrows said parental consent was required at the clinics, and the school environment provided a better safety net if a student suffered any adverse reaction.

Advice to schools from the Ministry of Education says a ‘‘parent or caregiver can provide consent if preferred’’.

If parents or caregivers preferred to give consent, the recommendation was for them to accompany the child to the vaccination and give verbal consent.

Tuliau said she understood the school closed early for sport on a Wednesday afternoon, so felt it was acceptable for the vaccination to go ahead for the students.

The Aranui Community Trust Inc had decided to offer incentives of grocery vouchers to encourage people to come to the clinic, Tuliau said.

She understood they could be perceived as a bribe.

Canterbury health board senior officer for the Covid-19 response Dr Helen Skinner said the mobile clinic was operating under Ministry of Health guidelines on consent.

News

en-nz

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/281535114199152

Stuff Limited