Government U-turn on forcing NHS staff jabs
The government will meet later today to decide on whether to do a major U-turn and scrap mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for NHS workers in England.
At present, NHS workers in England must be fully jabbed by 1 April – meaning they’ll have to get their first jab by Thursday. If they haven’t had both vaccinations by April then they will start facing redeployment or dismissal. It means, at present, around 77,000 could find themselves facing the boot.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the jab requirement was being “kept under review” and that it was the “duty” of NHS staff to get vaccinated.
The government ministers will now be having a rethink of the rule, as the mandatory jabs was put in place when Delta was the dominant variant – Omicron is now the dominant variant in circulation.
Mr Javid told the Health and Social Care Select Committee on Tuesday that it was right to “reflect” on the policy. But it is understood no final decisions have been made.
The government could scrap the rule due to fears the NHS will face a massive staffing crisis.
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