Vegans To Be Exempt From Compulsory Workplace Covid Vaccinations

Vegans in the UK could be exempt if companies introduce compulsory vaccinations at the workplace.

Employers risk legal action if they insist on vegan workers getting vaccinated. World's biggest companies like Google and Netflix announced last week that their staff must be vaccinated before returning to work, and UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday that the rule was "smart policy".

The Covid vaccine does not contain animal-based ingredients. Still, the current UK law says that all medications and vaccines must go through animal testing before being approved for commercial use. 

An estimated 500,000 vegans in the UK could be protected under employment laws from so-called obligatory "jabs for jobs" rules. 

Last year, ethical veganism was ruled by a UK tribunal to be a protected by law, just like religion. This means that vegans asked to get vaccinated could legally refuse to do it. 

The employers would risk legal action if they forced their workers to get vaccinated. 

A spokesman for law firm Lewis Silkin, told the Telegraph: "Some ethical vegans may disagree with vaccinations on the basis that they will inevitably have been tested on animals.

"Ethical veganism has previously been found to amount to a belief, capable of being protected."

The Vegan Society has been encouraging people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The organisation's statement says:" The definition of veganism recognises that it is not always possible or practicable to avoid animal use, which is particularly relevant to medical situations.

"In the case of Covid-19, vaccination will play a fundamental role in tackling the pandemic and saving lives. As all vaccines currently are tested on animals, at this stage, it is impossible to have a vaccine that has been created without animal use."

It adds: "We would like to make it clear that The Vegan Society encourages vegans to look after their health and that of others, in order to continue to be effective advocates for veganism and" other animals.

"As there is no plan for compulsory vaccination, it is the responsibility of each individual to make an informed decision about vaccines, bearing in mind the definition of veganism, with support from their local healthcare team."