UK GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS MANDATORY COVID JABS
FOR CARE HOME WORKERS
The UK’s care homes have been especially hard
hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many residents being classed as “high-risk”
due to age or health conditions, outbreaks of the infection can be potentially
disastrous. An analysis of deaths from March 2020 to February 2021 found that
nearly 38,000 care home residents had died of COVID-19.
In spite of the UK’s impressive vaccine
rollout, the government is having to consider introducing a mandatory
vaccination policy among care home workers that care for the elderly. Experts
from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) have advised that to
provide a minimum level of protection against outbreaks, care homes would have
to vaccinate 80% of staff and 90% of residents.
Worryingly, only just over half of care homes
are currently meeting these criteria and in some areas, less than 70% of staff
have been vaccinated. In response to this, the government has launched a 5-week
consultation for members of the public to express their opinion on the
introduction of mandatory vaccination for care workers.
THE NO JAB NO JOB APPROACH
The “no jab, no job” policy has already been
put into place in some care homes. Care home operator Barchester Healthcare
told staff they had to be vaccinated before the 23rd of April. Naturally,
exceptions are made in cases such as pregnancy but exempt staff would have to
wear PPE, Dr Pete Calvely of Barchester Healthcare said.
Barchester believes the vaccination programme
has transformed the outlook for the vulnerable residents in older people care
homes, a significant proportion of whom will not acquire full immunity despite
being vaccinated. While the Department of Health and Social Care has introduced
“measures specifically designed to increase uptake of the vaccine,” this can
take time and those anxious about the health of a loved one may wish for the
sense of security a fully vaccinated staff could provide.
Care home residents have also reaped the
benefits of the nation’s move out of lockdown with residents recently being
allowed to receive visitors indoors. In March they were allowed one regular
visitor and on April 12th this was increased to two. The latest guidelines also
make allowance for minimal physical contact such as hand-holding. These
advances have only been made possible through the rapid rollout and uptake of
the vaccine but we need to vaccinate as many people as possible to continue on
this path.
WHY HAVE PEOPLE REFUSED THE VACCINE?
There are a few groups of people for whom it’s
not safe to take the vaccine. If it becomes mandatory these people won’t be
forced to take it. As is the case at Barchester, they will likely continue to
work under COVID-19 regulations such as wearing PPE.
It is also advised that you do not take the
vaccine if you have ever had a “significant” allergic reaction to food or
medicine in the past and required medical intervention such as an EpiPen.
Pregnant women are not able to have the vaccine until they have given birth, as
the vaccine has not yet been tested on pregnant women, as is the case with most
medicines.
The idea of a compulsory vaccine has been met
with concern and resistance from some corners. Some people feel that the government would be overstepping its authority by making people take vaccines
against their will and that it would be better to encourage a voluntary uptake
instead.
For those working in the care sector, there is
concern that this move could stop people wanting to work in the already
understaffed field. Some also feel that it would be unfair to only have
compulsory vaccinations in residential and nursing homes and not in all health
and care sectors.
Despite vaccines being the most efficient way
to prevent disease, some people have reservations about taking them. In a lot
of cases, fear around vaccines is generated by misinformation that is typically
spread online. With the COVID-19 vaccine, rumour has spread that it could have
a negative impact on fertility. While there are no studies to show this and the
vaccines are proving to be very safe, some people are still afraid and
reluctant to get the vaccine.
There is also concern about side effects. A
survey by the Office of National Statistics found that 1 in 20 adults were
opposed to taking the vaccine and of these 44% were afraid of side effects.
Many also reported feeling worried about the speed at which the vaccine was
produced and that they would rather wait to see how well it works for others.
Concerns have been raised about blood clotting after the AstraZeneca vaccine
caused 22 deaths, though the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the
relatively small risks.
MOVING FORWARD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Mandatory vaccination is not unheard of and
already exists in countries like Italy and France. In 2019, Germany introduced
fines of up to €2,500 for refusing the measles vaccine after cases of measles
began increasing in Europe. At the moment there are no laws in the UK that
would allow the government to introduce a compulsory vaccine for anyone.
Under the Public Health (Control of Disease)
Act 1984, the government may introduce “regulations” to prevent infections but
they “may not include provision requiring
a person to undergo medical treatment.” This includes vaccinations,
therefore the government would need to make amendments to the law to be able to
do this.
Currently, the NHS is continuing to offer the
vaccine to those who have refused it and attempting to ease any reluctance or
hesitancy. This includes NHS members of staff who have not taken the vaccine.
Nadhir Zahawi, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine
Deployment said that “10-15 minute conversations make a huge difference to
staff.”
He stressed that “If you are looking after a
vulnerable person, then it is your professional duty if offered the jab, to
take the jab.” More information will be available after the 21st of May when
the public survey closes.