On 31 January, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) paused the rollout of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for health and social care staff.
Following a short consultation on the subject to get feedback, DHSC have now confirmed that health and social care staff will not need a Covid-19 vaccination in order to work with patients.
The legislation that required mandatory vaccination will be repealed (cancelled) from 15 March 2022. The legislation requiring Covid-19 vaccines for care home staff and anyone who does any work in a care home will be repealed at the same time.
As the requirement for care homes has already been rolled out, care homes are being advised to continue to require vaccination up to 15 March, so please be mindful that if you visit a care home for work before this date you may still be asked to prove your vaccination status.
For NHS staff from 15 March there is no longer a requirement for new recruits to be fully vaccinated nor will contractors from partner organisations.
For more information:
Oral statement on vaccines as a condition of deployment
The new Regulations revoking the 2021 Care Home Regulations and the 2022 Vaccine as a Condition of Deployment
Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment across all health and social care