Covid-19 vaccines now compulsory for all NHS staff in England

Covid-19 vaccines will be compulsory for all NHS staff in England who have until spring to get their jabs or risk losing their job, the Government has announced. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said all those working in the health service will have until spring to give them time to receive both vaccine doses. The only people exempt from the mandatory policy will be those who do not have to face contact with patients and those who have a medical exemption. Making a Covid-19 update statement in the House of Commons, Mr Javid said: “Having considered the consultation responses, the advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated. We must avoid preventable harm and protect patients in the NHS, protect colleagues in the NHS and of course protect the NHS itself.”