Ulster University (UU) is conducting a survey to ask students and staff about their vaccination status, the BBC has reported.
If they are not vaccinated, the questionnaire also asks students and staff to give their reasoning. The survey was sent via email to UU’s 27,000 students and 2,600 staff.
It is being conducted anonymously and asks students and staff if they have received one or two doses of Covid 19 vaccine or if they have not been vaccinated at all.
They can give several reasons for not being vaccinated including but not limited to: “it has not been convenient for me to get vaccinated,” “I have antibodies from contracting Covid-19,” “I’m worried about possible side effects from the vaccine,” “I have been medically advised not to due to possible contraindications” or “I don’t believe Covid-19 is a serious illness”.
The survey also asks respondents whether they “think it is appropriate that the lack of double vaccination against Covid-19 may restrict unvaccinated individuals from attending some venues or participating in certain indoor activities”.
The survey goes on to ask students and staff “how likely they would be to get vaccinated if it was required to access in-person or on-campus classes, university bars, sports, library or entertainment facilities, university accommodation or for attending bars, nightclubs and festivals outside the university”.
Northern Ireland’s universities and colleges are due to make a full return to face-to-face teaching in September. According to the BBC, UU, Queen’s University Belfast and further education colleges in Northern Ireland have previously said that vaccines will not be mandatory to enter campus in the new term.
However, they are all strongly encouraging students and staff to get vaccinated.
Northern Ireland’s Department of Health announced ‘Big Jab Weekend’ for this weekend. They are encouraging everyone to take advantage of mass vaccination centres and offering walk-in first jabs for all adult age groups. This is in addition to ongoing vaccinations at walk-in pop-up clinics, and at participating community pharmacies.
The Big Jab Weekend has been accompanied by a social media campaign encouraging everyone eligible to get vaccinated.
