AUT health science students have been threatened that if they do not get the covid 19 vaccine they could fail their degrees as they would not be allowed on clinical placement which is part of the paper requirements. The covid 19 vaccine is still on clinical trial and is not mandatory for DHB staff. This is not a debate on vaccines this is about giving students the right to decline the covid 19 vaccine, without it impacting on their studies, while no long term studies have been done. No studies have been completed for effects on fertility or mutagenic effects. Most of these students are low risk from covid 19 and are not frontline workers. Furthermore according to the governments covid 19 website it is too soon to know if the vaccine stops the transmission of covid 19. Some of these students are half way through their degrees and have worked hundreds of hours, spent time away from family and thousands of dollars to have it all for nothing unless they get a vaccine they do not feel comfortable having. This is not to say some may decide to have the vaccine at a later date when they feel satisfied that the benefits outweigh the risks for them personally and long term studies are completed. This is a decision that students should be able to make free of coercion.