Consultation on mandatory vaccination for frontline health and social care staff

A consultation will be launched today on protecting patients by mandating vaccination for frontline health and social care staff in England.

• Consultation launches today on making vaccination a condition of deployment for frontline workers in health and care settings
• Staff may be required to have COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect patients from infection, serious illness or death
• 92% of NHS staff have had their first dose and 88% both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and Ministers urge remainder to take up offer now to keep themselves and those they care for safe
• The government is seeking views on plans for staff in health and care settings in England to be required to have COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect vulnerable people.

A six-week consultation will be launched today, looking at whether requirements should apply for health and wider social care workers: those in contact with patients and people receiving care. It would mean only those who are fully vaccinated, unless medically exempt, could be deployed to deliver health and care services. The consultation will also seek views on whether flu vaccines should be a requirement for health and care workers.

There is a longstanding precedent for vaccination requirements in NHS roles. Workplace health and safety and occupational health policies are already in place requiring the Hepatitis B vaccine for those undertaking exposure-prone procedure – such as surgeons.

The consultation will seek views on the proposals, its scope, and any potential impact it could have on staffing and safety such as reducing staff sickness absence. Findings will then help inform decision-making around how the change could be implemented and who could be exempt – if a decision is taken to introduce this requirement. Staff, healthcare providers, stakeholders, patients and their families are being urged to take part to have their views heard, with a final decision expected this winter.

Please see Open consultation – Making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector to provide your view.