The University of the Free State (UFS) wants all its staff and students to be vaccinated and be able to provide vaccination certificates from the first of February 2022.

The certificates will be needed to gain access to all three campuses of the university. This, as the university aims to bring students and staff back to campus in a phased in approach which will minimise the risk of spreading the virus.

Meanwhile, the university council which sits next month will consider approval of the mandatory vaccination policy.

“All staff and students must be vaccinated and be able to provide vaccination certificates from 1st of February to enter our three campuses. The university recognises certain accepted and legally acceptable defences for refusing to be vaccinated and will respect this through a process that protects the constitutional rights of staff and students. This will include setting up reasonable accommodation panels comprising the necessary experts,” Rector and vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State, Professor Francis Petersen explains.

UFS SRC against mandatory vaccinations

The Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of the Free State says a mandatory vaccination policy is not necessary.

The SRC says it is against the direction the university is intending to take next year.

VIDEO: University of the Free State SRC reacts to possible mandatory vaccines: