Covid vaccine to be required for England care home staff - BBC News

Care home worker holding a resident's hands

Covid vaccinations are to become compulsory for staff in care homes for older people in England, the BBC has been told.

Care staff are expected to be given 16 weeks to have the jab - or face being redeployed away from frontline care or losing their jobs.

The move, first reported in the Guardian, is expected to be announced by the government in the next few days.

Consultations will begin on a similar rule for other health and care staff.

Care organisations have warned that compulsory vaccinations could cause significant difficulties in a sector that already struggles to recruit enough people.

The government, however, is believed to have considerable concerns about low take-up of the vaccine in some areas, including London.

A Whitehall source told the BBC: "These moves would save lives and there is precedent with the Hepatitis B vaccine guidance for doctors."

Workers who can prove they are medically exempt from getting the vaccine will not be affected.

The move follows a consultation by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), launched in April, two months after the government said it had met its target of offering all frontline care workers a first dose of a vaccine by mid-February.

At the time, it said 47% of English care homes for older people had more than a fifth of staff yet to take up the vaccine, despite staff at all eligible care homes having been offered vaccines, with the vast majority of homes having had repeat visits by vaccine teams.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the government's announcement of its decision on mandatory vaccination for care home staff was "very imminent".

She told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday: "We need to make sure we get the balance right but I'm sure people appreciate that protecting lives is the absolute priority."

Ms Truss refused to be drawn on whether mandatory vaccination could be extended to other settings.

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group (ICG) which represents care homes in Yorkshire, said he was disappointed by the decision and concerned it could cause legal disputes for providers.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "People should be vaccinated, every member of staff should take up the vaccine, but I just think persuasion rather than coercion or compulsion is the way to deal with it."

Mr Padgham said the sector already had a "recruitment crisis", saying: "We're frightened that this is going to put more people off coming into social care and that's going to be difficult.

He added: "It feels like we're fighting two battles, Covid-19… but also the government on many things, who don't seem to understand social care."

Analysis box by Nick Triggle, health correspondent

Low uptake among care home staff was a big concern when the vaccine programme was launched - similar issues are seen with the annual flu jab.

Efforts have been made to convince staff of the need to get vaccinated - there have been advertising campaigns targeting them, webinars held by health leaders and repeat visits made to homes by vaccination teams.

There are plenty of places where there has been good uptake.

But there are also significant numbers of places where fewer than 80% of staff have been vaccinated - the threshold deemed essential to keep the virus out if 90% of residents are also vaccinated.

Those working in the sector say there are a variety of reasons staff have cited - cultural reasons and concerns about safety. One common issue has been (unfounded) worries about its impact on fertility as the workforce is young and predominantly female.

This move raises lots of concerns from individual rights to its potential to force staff out from a sector that is already short of workers.

But the counter argument is that the vulnerabilities of residents and the closed environments they live in require drastic action.

In the care sector in England there have been more than 40,000 deaths involving Covid.

Meanwhile, nearly 42 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a vaccine so far, and just over 30 million have had their second.

Almost one million people aged 21 and 22 are now able to book their jab in England and the target to offer all adults a first dose of a vaccine has been brought forward to 19 July.

Some 972,000 text messages will be sent out inviting people to make appointments for both vaccine doses via the national booking system, leaving only 18 to 20 year-olds yet to be invited.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said on Tuesday he expected that all those over the age of 18 would be able to book "by the end of this week", and that the NHS aimed to offer second doses to two thirds of adults by 19 July.

On Tuesday, a further 10 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK, and 7,673 more cases.

Banner image reading 'more about coronavirus'

LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area?
SOCIAL DISTANCING: How can I meet my friend safely?
FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?

Are you a care worker who hasn't been vaccinated against Covid-19? Do you or a loved one live in a care home? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Or fill out the form below
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Adblock test (Why?)