Mandatory Covid vaccine for health staff under consultation

The government are considering making it mandatory for frontline NHS and care workers in England to receive a Covid and flu vaccine.

Plans are already in place for compulsory jabs for care home staff in England.

However, some unions and care organisations warn that making vaccinations mandatory will result in staff shortages.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid urges all health service workers to protect vulnerable patients by getting fully vaccinated.

Figures show that around 88% of NHS trust employees have received two doses of Covid vaccine, but the amount falls to 78% in some places.

The UK reported over 30,000 new daily virus cases in nine consecutive days, and the number of Covid hospitalisations is increasing.

The consultation process, lasting six weeks, will look at whether vaccination requirements should apply for health and social care workers on a wider scale. These are people who are in contact with patients and vulnerable groups.

From November, care home staff in England need to have had both jabs, unless they are exempt from vaccination. The new proposals will extend the requirement to all health service workers. This means only those with full vaccination are able to deliver health and care services. However, the health care sector is already struggling with recruitment and retention of staff. Introducing mandatory Covid vaccines could make things even more difficult.

A difficult situation

Social care minister Helen Whately says around 90% of care home workers are already double jabbed. The government is now working with care homes to support employees who are hesitant over receiving a vaccine. It is a “really difficult” situation. But those who refuse a vaccination will not face dismissal. Instead, they will have to find different roles outside of the care home.

According to Ms Whately, care home residents and their families want fully vaccinated workers, as it will provide them with the most protection against Covid.

However, government advisory bodies have mixed views.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) Social Care Working Group advises a similar approach for both social care and health sectors. This is because the network of workers, patients and residents often overlap.

Meanwhile, Professor Adam Finn, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) feels differently. He sees the proposals going ahead “like an admission of failure”. Making the Covid vaccine mandatory implies that messaging was not effective enough. In his view, we shouldn’t just tell people they have to have it, we need to explain to ensure they understand why “it makes sense”. This way we can work at creating a culture that accepts the importance of vaccinations.

Urge to get vaccinated

The consultation will focus on the scope of the proposals and the impact it could have on staffing levels and safety. A final decision is expected this winter. In the meantime, healthcare providers and workers, and patients and their families are encouraged to voice their opinions to the government.

Mr Javid says the impact vaccines have against potentially fatal respiratory diseases is clearly evident. But whatever the outcome, he still urges any unvaccinated NHS staff to consider getting a jab. They should do it “for their own health as well as those around them”.

Compulsory jabs for people in the medical profession are not unheard of. Some surgeons must have Hepatitis B vaccination if they are likely to face exposure to the virus.

Meanwhile, experts warn of the possibility of a surge in flu cases this year. Flu levels remained low last year due to coronavirus lockdowns over the winter months. Since the 1960s it has been recommended that people in vulnerable groups in the UK receive a vaccination against flu. Flu jab rates among the health service have risen significantly over the last ten years to 76%, from 14% in 2002.

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