The President for the UPNG Student Representative Council (SRC) Bradley Yombon Copio is calling on the UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences to rectify a circular that was put out yesterday which infringed on student rights for those students who opted not to receive the AstraZeneca Vaccine.
The Circular was signed by the Executive Dean, Professor Nakapi Tefuarani and the Deputy Dean Academic Professor John Vince, clearly instructing students to choose between getting vaccinated to continue their studies at the Medical Faculty or stream to another course at the main campus if they refused the vaccine.
SRC President Bradley Yombon Copio said the Deans should have consulted with the SRC or the students concerned before putting out a circular that clearly does not respect individual rights.
“There should have been a fair consultation but that did not happen which was the disappointing part about the circular.”
However, Mr Copio understands that it is a delicate situation but then again students rights must also be respected and the hospital and the school must find a way to accommodate those students who refuse to be vaccinated.
He said the hospital also has an obligation to protect their patients and that is totally understandable but there has be another way to address this than just cutting out students who have demonstrated their rights not to get vaccinated.
“We understand the hospital’s stance, we cannot dictate the hospital because they have to care for their patients and that is their responsibility and priorities as well.”
“But we want our school to actually try and fight for us in the sense of trying to find a balance where we can still go on learning while views of other students who didn’t get the vaccine can still be respected,” said Copio.
Copio said a lot of students are for the vaccine with just a minority refusing to take the vaccine but still, their views must be respected because it is the principal that their views should be respected.
“Vast majority of the students support the vaccine.”
“We understand evidence based research, we understand our ethical responsibility as future clinicians who will be practicing in the health sector as well.”
“We understand those facts associated with the vaccine but this doesn’t go back to COVID-19, the vaccination or the drug itself AstraZeneca.”
“It’s just that, that decision should be made based on the conscience by the students themselves and if that is not respected than, that’s an issue”
Mr Copio has written a letter to the parties concerned in making the decision expressing similar sentiments and hoping to find a way forward for everyone involved.
