Vaccine mandates Ngā mana kano ārai mate

“I was treated like a leper. I was alienated by friends. I lost my job, I wasn’t allowed to have my hair done. I couldn't eat inside a restaurant. I lost out on visiting my family.”

45–54-year-old African, Auckland

People told us that vaccine mandates caused significant social divisions and excluded unvaccinated people from society.

Some people commented that vaccine mandates were unnecessary because they thought COVID-19 vaccines simply didn’t work, stating that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can catch and spread COVID-19. These people often added that the division and social problems that vaccine mandates caused were therefore pointless.

People shared their experiences of friendships or family relationships being damaged and often described feeling rejected or hated, or like a second-class citizen, as an unvaccinated person.

“What happened was a breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights. The Government should never have such control over the population. People were quite capable of making up their own minds about what medical treatment to take. If I saw the need to be vaccinated, I would have done so.”

55–64-year-old female, Bay of Plenty

Some people felt vaccines should be a voluntary medical treatment and never be mandated. They stated that vaccine mandates went against people’s human rights, or that people were coerced, pressured, or forced to get vaccinated – often based on the threat of losing their job and income if they didn’t.

Some people who described themselves as generally pro-vaccine told us they disagreed with mandated COVID-19 vaccinations.

People questioned the lawfulness of various aspects of the COVID-19 response, particularly the vaccine mandates.

An initial commitment from the Government that vaccines would not be mandated was often raised, with people expressing their frustration that this position changed.

“My wife lost her job as a care worker that put financial stress and caused mental anxiety to my family.”

Pākehā male, Manawatū-Whanganui

People told us they didn’t agree with people losing their jobs because of vaccine mandates, noting that this caused mental health issues and financial hardship. We heard many personal accounts of people who lost their jobs because they did not get vaccinated.

Some people discussed the pressures put on businesses and employers who had to enforce the mandates, while others wanted to see compensation for those who lost their jobs.

“This rollout, and my decision to wait until clinical trials were complete, cost me my job and my career and I did not find work for over a year. Now I work for less than half my former hourly rate, only 20 hours per week and financially struggle.”

65–74-year-old female, Waikato

“Due to the vaccine mandates forcing unwanted medical ‘treatment’, I was fired, lost my home, broke up with my partner and have been estranged from my children. This has not been resolved...”

25–34-year-old male, living in Bay of Plenty during the pandemic

“I don’t think people should have lost their jobs. People on the ground were the ones that had to deal with mandate decisions. Caused lots of anxiety and stress.”

No demographic information provided

People also criticised the way vaccine exemptions were handled, stating the criteria were too strict, or that GPs should have been able to grant exemptions.

Some people described difficulties accessing healthcare due to their vaccine status, including being turned away from doctors or being made to have consultations online, over the phone or, in some cases, in parking lots.

“At the time I required a serious operation to reattach torn tendons but was denied treatment at some places, forced to visit doctors in their carpark, required to take multiple tests, and refused entry to a hotel after the operation while on crutches.”

45–54-year-old male

“I personally do not take any medicines with unknown long-term effects. The COVID-19 vaccine was no different.

I have been bullied, called names and made to feel dirty, selfish and bad because of my choice. I became a second-class citizen, not allowed to take my children to swimming or dance lessons. I felt blacklisted from society.

This has had such a detrimental effect on my mental health, and I have suffered because of it, suicidal thoughts have been at the forefront.”

35–44-year-old female, Canterbury

People shared their personal experiences of being unvaccinated for COVID-19, and how it affected their lives. They described how vaccine-related restrictions excluded them from society, and shared examples of how they were treated poorly.

People often said that this led to stress, anxiety or depression, and told us about the ongoing mental health impacts they’ve faced, including substance abuse and other health problems caused by stress.

Other people commented more generally that they felt that vaccine mandates weren’t worth the harm they caused to people’s mental health.

Some people also commented that children in particular should not have been mandated to take the vaccine. People described how unvaccinated children were excluded from sports and school activities, and how this affected young people’s mental health, see Education during the pandemic for more information.