Last chance for North East care home workers to have second jab to save their job
95% have already had their first dose of the vaccine but a second is needed if they want to keep their job
It’s the very last chance for care home staff to get their second vaccination, or they will be fired from their job.
The Government made it legal obligation for anyone working in a care home to be double jabbed, in order to protect the most vulnerable - and today is the final deadline.
The North East has higher vaccination rate amongst care home workers than the rets of the country, with 95% of workers having had at least one dose of the vaccine.
However, a second dose is needed if they want to keep their job.
Christina Nichol is from the Eothen homes in the North East she says the jabs are vital as they provide extra protection for their residents.
The care home worker said: "Now we've got 3 homes in the North East, and all but one of our staff have been double vaccinated and the one staff member that hasn't been has made that decision and will be leaving the company on the 11th. We have supported her with her decision, and it's her choice at the end of the day.
"We are working with the most vulnerable people in the country. A lot of elderly people, and a lot of them who are living with dementia. So, from a safety point of view, the more people that are vaccinated the better for our residents.
"There had to be a deadline at some point or otherwise people would continue to be indecisive about whether or not they were going to have the vaccination. I know it has been difficult for some people, especially those who have struggled to make the choice, and especially when it comes down to whether or not they can continue to work in care, otherwise it would've been never-ending."
The last chance for workers to get their first dose was 16 September, which gave workers the time needed between a first and second jab.
April deadline for NHS workers
Yesterday we also heard that NHS workers and social care staff in England will need to be jabbed to carry on their jobs from April next year, unless they're exempt.
More than 120,000 frontline health and social care staff in England could lose their jobs next spring after refusing to have Covid-19 vaccinations, according to Government estimates.
But the Government has conceded that the policy could have a "significant impact" on the health and care workforce, with estimates suggesting that as many as 123,000 could leave their jobs as a result.
88,000 health workers unvaccinated
An impact report estimates that by the end of the grace period around 88,000 health workers, including 73,000 NHS staff, and 35,000 social care workers will remain unvaccinated.
In a Commons statement, Mr Javid said there was no doubt that health and social care staff "carry a unique responsibility" in the work they do and "we must avoid preventable harm".
He said only those who do not have face-to-face contact with patients or who are medically exempt will not be required to have two doses of a Covid jab, with enforcement of the rule from April 1 next year.
The decision applies to health and wider social care settings that are regulated by the Care Quality Commission.