The Government has confirmed it is seeking to scrap mandatory Covid jabs for existing NHS and social care workers, after warnings up to 80,000 staff could lose their jobs.
A consultation will be launched on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and social care settings, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has told the Commons.
Two factors mean the Government can ‘revisit the balance of risks and opportunities’ that guided the original decision last year, he said.
The Tory politician continued: ‘Omicron’s increased infectiousness means that at the peak of the recent winter spike, one in 15 people had a Covid-19 infection, according to the ONS (Office for National Statistics).
‘Around 24% of England’s population has had at least one positive Covid-19 test, and as as of today in England, 84% of people over 12 have had a primary course of Covid-19 vaccines and 64% have been boosted, including over 90% of over-50s.
‘The second factor is that the dominant variant, Omicron, is intrinsically less severe.
‘When taken together with the first factor that we now have greater population protection, the evidence shows that the risk of presentation to emergency care or hospital admission with Omicron is approximately half of that for Delta.
‘Given these dramatic changes, it is not only right but responsible to revisit the balance of risks and opportunities that guided our original decision last year.
‘While vaccination remains our very best line of defence against Covid-19, I believe that it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment through statute.
‘So I’m announcing that we will launch a consultation on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and all social care sectors. Subject to the responses and the will of this House, the Government will revert the regulations.’
He added that while the Government will seek to end vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and social care settings using statute, he is taking several other steps.
The Health Secretary said: ‘First, I have written to professional regulators operating across health to ask them to urgently review current guidance to registrants on vaccinations, including Covid-19, to emphasise their professional responsibilities in this area.
‘Second, I have asked the NHS to review its policies on the hiring of new staff and the deployment of existing staff, taking into account their vaccination’s status, and third, I’ve asked my officials to consult on updating my department’s code of practice, which applies to all CQC (Care Quality Commission) registered providers of all health care and social care settings in England.
‘They will consult on strengthening requirements in relation to Covid-19, including reflecting the latest advice on infection protection control.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Covid-19 News Click Here
