UK government leaves route to compulsory vaccination for NHS staff open

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Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi has left open the possibility of compulsory vaccination for NHS staff after applying the measures to nursing home workers.

Mr Zahawi made the remarks during his series of media interviews on Sunday, in which he also doubled national vaccine passports for nightclubs and other major venues from the end of September.

The Minister of Vaccines, who had assured a peer in the House of Lords on January 12 that in no uncertain terms there would be no introduction of national vaccine passports, yesterday told Sky News that it was “fair and responsible that we examine the duty to diligence of healthcare workers on the front line and across the NHS ”, with reports, a consultation on the possibility of making vaccination a condition of employment within the National Health Service could be opened as early as this week, according to sources speaking to The telegraph.

Asked about a potential scenario of ‘jabs for jobs’ at Britain’s largest employer, Mr Zahawi said in comments reported by MailOnline that a consultation held on conditions for deployment in social care facilities returned “very clear comments that we need to look at improving the healthcare workforce, including the frontline NHS workforce I have to say, and it’s worth it to point out, they came out in large numbers to be protected and vaccinated ”.

Although he admitted that more than 94% of frontline healthcare workers have already volunteered to be vaccinated, the minister said: care for people who are, when they enter the hospital , vulnerable to infection and we are consulting and we will come back and of course post this consultation in due course. “

“I think the right thing to do is to consult and then publish this,” he added.

In July, lawmakers approved the vaccination for all nursing home staff, with Big Brother Watch privacy and civil liberties activist Silkie Carlo warning that it could set a precedent for others employers make similar demands to their workers. All healthcare workers should have received at least their first dose by September 16, with a full vaccination scheduled by November 11, unless they are exempt.

An industry news website and other media reported warnings last month that the policy could lead to a workforce crisis, with forecasts of up to 40,000 of the sector’s half-million employees. could refuse the vaccine. The Guardian reported on Saturday that caregivers in England were already leaving the profession for other higher paying jobs, and even to become Amazon warehouse preparers. It is estimated that 87,000 nursing home staff around the country are not fully immunized.

Likewise, forced vaccination of NHS staff could also exacerbate staff shortages and lead to the departure of large numbers of staff, according to The telegraph.

The UK’s leading health group, the NHS Confederation, has called the possibility of compulsory vaccination “not necessary” because many staff are already vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Mr Zahawi was forced to reconsider remarks which appeared to imply that children between the ages of 12 and 15 wishing to be vaccinated could do so against their parents’ wishes if they were deemed ‘competent’.

Vaccine advisers in the UK have authorized the use of vaccines for children aged 16 and over without parental consent. But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has not recommended vaccination for the next younger age group, 12 to 15. Despite the JCVI’s position, the government is still thinking about it and, according to them. reports, could begin vaccination of young adolescents in the coming weeks.

Speaking to Times Radio on Sunday, Zahawi said: ‘The NHS is really good at it because they’ve been running school immunization programs for a very long time, so what you’re basically doing is making sure clinicians discuss it with parents. , with the adolescent, and if they are then deemed capable of making a competent decision, then that decision will be in favor of what the adolescent decides to do.

The minister was later asked on Sky News to assure parents that if a decision is made to vaccinate 12 to 15 year olds, it will require parental consent.

“I can give that assurance, absolutely,” Zahawi said.

It remains to be seen whether Zahawi’s word can be relied upon, but the government’s turnaround on past remarks on vaccine passports could perhaps suggest not.

On January 12, Zahawi responded to reports that there may be national certification of vaccines, saying: “We do not intend to introduce vaccine passports. As of yesterday, we have vaccinated 2,431,648 first dose and 412,167 second dose. No one has received or will be required to have a vaccination passport. “

Claire Fox, House of Lords peer Baroness Fox of Buckley, quoted the remarks on Twitter, request: ” It’s good to hear. Again. Can we stick with that? “

What, Zahawi responded: “Yes you can Claire.”



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