There’s been a lot of talk about ‘vaccine passports’ and ‘no jab, no job’ policies recently. They are proving to be controversial in many areas, but the government has nevertheless proceeded with its plan to make vaccination compulsory in social care settings.

Compulsory vaccination

Although there will be a grace period of 16 weeks to allow both employers and employees to prepare themselves, parliament has now voted through new laws (The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021), which will require almost all those working in care homes to be fully vaccinated for Coronavirus from 11 November 2021.

In effect, before being allowed into a care home, anyone over the age of 18 who is not a resident of the home will need to provide evidence of either:

• full vaccination; or

• the fact that they cannot receive the vaccine for medical reasons.

There will be some limited exemptions in relation to visitors or those attending the property in the event of an emergency or other exceptional circumstances. However, generally speaking, if you work for or otherwise provide services in a care home, you will need to be fully jabbed.  

The regulations will be reviewed after 12 months, in order to consider whether they are still required.

Are you concerned?

If you are a care worker or a care home operator and want to know more about these new regulations, please get it touch.

‍