This is the most controversial part of the consultation and goes further than any previous legislation. There has been a lot of opposition to this proposal online and from other politicians.
Section 143 states “the regulations may impose a special restriction or requirement such as requiring a person to be vaccinated or to receive other prophylactic treatments”.
Following the public outcry the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, said he was against mandatory vaccines but said “it is important we consider all options”.
“I am not in favour of mandatory vaccination even in limited and tightly prescribed circumstances,” he said.
“Nevertheless, it is right that we have a public conversation about all potential options in the public consultation,” he added.
During the Covid-19 pandemic the government in Westminster moved to make the vaccine compulsory for front-line NHS workers and care home staff, for a time, but Northern Ireland did not follow suit.
