Proof of Booster

I wouldn't imagine so if there is no contractual or legal requirement for her to have it.

 

I wish this is what the NHS did to be honest. I just got a letter asking me if it was o.k for midyorkshire to access my records to see if I'd had my booster. I didn't object but was annoyed by the intrusion. Why not request the proof instead of saying unless I objected by the 31st they'd do it anyway?

 

Probably that way so they aren't chasing everyone up for it. Easier for people to consent than go digging for it themselves.

Get what you're saying though.

 

We were asked our vaccination status at work but didn't have to provide evidence - obviously my work is school based though

 

It *might* be part of their duty of care to employees so that the employer can perform a risk assessment and plan to mitigate risks for your friend and other employees.

 

Tell them to send this in

 

My daughter is starting a new job at MidYorks - she'd already sent them her full vaccine print out from the doctors - which included the Covid vaccines, they then sent her a separate email a week later asking for proof of Covid vaccine - Sterling HR department.

 

Ow, I once won one of those from Atlantic radio 252

 

Another issue is does a prospective employee have a duty to declare their 'booster status' and could they not be 'hired' if they refuse to give this information or have not been 'boosted.'

Before your daughter's friend decides what she is going to do she should ask who has access to any information she may give - is it confidential etc.

 

No. Your daughter's health record is private and should remain so.

 

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/nhs-patient-data/113563/

Not any more .

 

Disgraceful. I opted out of that at the time, but the fact you had to opt out says it all. What are your thoughts on it?

Edit: the opt-out was hardly well publicised either, funny that.

 

Why the secrecy. It's not something to be ashamed of. If we all had our jabs we could get back to some kind of normality

 

My work asked for proof of vaccine status as they said they wouldn't pay people isolating unless they were vaccinated. They quickly backed peddled on this and apologised.

 

We all had to prove evidence of vaccination status to avoid weekly onsite RAT tests. This is Australia of course so the rules might be slightly different.

 

It's nobody's business. And if you think giving up our medical records leads to 'going back to normal', then you're mistaken.

 

My personal feelings, the right to privacy is extremely important and it grates on me every time our work overstep their line but:

• We're in exceptional circumstances in the middle of a pandemic that is threatening livelihoods, lives, if not the whole species if it mutates before we stamp it out
• We live in a world where it is generally considered fine to allow Google, Facebook and Alexa access to EVERYTHING we do
• They're not asking for medical records, just the specific vaccine status for a specific purpose
• Knowing employee's status might not eradicate the virus but it might help plan things like seating, WFH and shift arrangements to help protect those not vaccinated thus fulfilling a duty of care

There are principles at stake here, I realise that, but I think we have to cut some slack in this instance and redirect privacy concerns at the real threats, listed above.

Edit (because we cannot give the bar stewards cart blanche): The caveats on this should be:

• The company shall be transparent on what the data will be used for
• The company shall demonstrate that access is restricted to need to know and that all such staff have been trained in the handling of sensitive data
• The company shall demonstrate that the data is being held appropriately and securely (i.e. not openly stored on some PC connected to the network/internet).

I can imagine not all companies can claim that.

 

On your first point, viruses mutate and as we've seen with omicron, it isn't as deadly. Still, the vaccines aren't enough, but then people are hysterical over getting the booster the same way they were about getting vaccinated - ask yourself, how many boosters do you think are going to be needed, and how many before we 'go back to normal'? It is indeed threatening livelihoods - thousands of NHS workers who don't want to be vaccinated: last year we clapped them, this year we're firing them.
On your second, that's not a good enough reason I'm afraid. Many people don't indulge these things (I've never used Alexa and never want to; I also came off facebook years ago, before the metaverse came along to try and save us all from our servitude - dystopian much?). Is that a reason for employers to ask employees if they have been vaccinated, that some people consider it fine to allow Google, Facebook and Alexa access to EVERYTHING we do?
On your third point, why and for what purpose? They don't ask for your flu vaccination status.
On those not vaccinated, it is likely that by now they don't want to be and that is their personal choice. It's not protecting them or fulfilling a duty of care to know their 'vaccine status', it is snooping and, in many cases, has led to (or will lead to, see above re NHS) dismissal as a result - livelihoods lost.

On your caveats, how many companies do you honestly think will stick to that?

You raise some very good questions. My fear is that once privacy and rights are frittered away in the name of vaccinated vs unvaccinated, we are leading down the path of fascism, and once those liberties (privacy; the right to decide what goes into your body without repercussions) are gone, they will be gone forever.