Last year, the Government introduced a policy in which vaccinations against COVID-19 were made mandatory for health and social workers (unless exempt) who worked in regulated care homes in England. In April 2022, this mandatory requirement was broadened to also include those health and social care workers who meet with service users in person.
Since then, in light of changing medical guidance, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has voiced his desire to revoke the mandatory vaccination requirement for both sets of health and social care workers.
Despite their wish to revoke the mandatory vaccination requirement, the Government still believes that it is part of health and social care workers’ professional duty to be vaccinated. As such, the Government is reinforcing this duty in numerous ways, such as requesting that the NHS review its hiring policy so that it considers a candidate’s vaccination status. COVID-19 testing will also continue throughout the health and social care sector.