Last chance for 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

Published 10th Nov 2021
Last updated 10th Nov 2021

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.

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 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.

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.

Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, Colin Cox says he has concerns about mandatory vaccines and says it’s already having an effect of social care staffing:

"I do think that everybody in the NHS, certainly in front line NHS services should get their vaccine unless they're medically exempt from doing so.

"One of the risks when you mandate vaccination is that some people, hopefully small numbers, who feel very strongly about not being vaccinated, may be inclined to leave the service rather than be forced to get vaccinated.

"When you've got a service that's under a huge amount of staffing pressure, even a relatively a small number of people choosing to make that decision can make a big difference to the staffing that you've got.

"We've seen some of that within care home settings. Some people are choosing not to get vaccinated and it's making it more difficult to get staff.

"We've seen, not just care workers, but other people who may be doing essential work in care homes, even maintenance work, who are required to be vaccinated who have chosen not to do that. It's making it more difficult for care homes to get that maintenance done."

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.

Covid timeline:

December 2019

The first case of Covid-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 2019.

January 2020

Chinese state media reported the first known death from Covid-19 on 11 January 2020. The city of Wuhan was closed off by Chinese authorities on 23 January 2020, cancelling all transport entering and leaving the city. In January, the WHO also declared Covid-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

February 2020

February was when the virus started to receive real global recognition. It was officially named Covid-19 by WHO, and countries around the world started to report cases and deaths. Italy reported Europe's first major outbreak and had to use tents to treat surging numbers of patients as hospitals ran out of room.

March 2020

UK Governments introduced a national lockdown from 23 March 2020, instructing people to "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives", after the UK reported its first official death from Covid-19 on 2 March 2020. Cities around the country appeared deserted. In late March the United States became the worst hit country with the most reported cases at that point.

April 2020

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into intensive care with Covid-19 on 6 April 2020. Worldwide, cases topped one million and deaths passed 200,000. April also saw the first peak of the virus in the UK.

June 2020

England and Scotland made face coverings mandatory on public transport in June, while Northern Ireland and Wales followed suit in July. Face coverings then became mandatory in shops in each nation, with Scotland and England introducing the rule in July, Northern Ireland in August and Wales in September.

September 2020

In September, the official global death toll reached 1 million. However, the official figures are thought to greatly understate the number of people who have actually died from Covid-19. In the US alone, Covid-19 deaths surpassed 200,000.

November 2020

In November, England entered a second lockdown in an attempt to try and curb the spread of the virus.

December 2020

The UK became the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against Covid-19 for use in December. Vaccinations began on 8 December 2020, when 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person outside of a clinical trial to receive the jab. Later on in the month, the UK approved a second vaccine, developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. However, it wasn't all good news, as a new variant of Covid-19 was also discovered in December, which was much more transmissible than the original strain.

January 2021

In January 2021, the mass vaccine roll out began across the UK. However, all four nations all went back into full lockdown as the UK entered a second wave of the virus, with the peak surpassing that of the first wave in April. The UK also reached the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths.

February 2021

At the height of the third lockdown, the first cases of the South African variant came to dominate diagnosed Covid cases in the UK. February also saw the UK meet its target of administering 10 million first doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Boris Johnson also unveiled the UK's strategy to return to normal life after the pandemic. The country would only come out of lockdown once the vaccines showed a strong effect of fighting the virus. To stop the spread, the Prime Minister also announced new regulations to international travel. Travellers from countries on the government's "red list" would be made to quarantine in hotels at their own expense. It was also revealed that any resumption of non-essential international travel would not happen until May 17th.

March 2021

March saw the one-year anniversary since the first lockdown. However, the country began to cautiously reopen, with the "stay at home" order being formally lifted. The government did, instead, recommend that people "stay local" from March 29th.
People could begin to socialise again with the implementing of the rule of six in outdoor spaces such as parks and gardens. As well as this, gyms and leisure centres were able to open their doors, while schools and colleges could welcome pupils back for the first time in months.

April 2021

Following an increase in vaccinations and the reduction of Covid cases, the Prime Minister confirmed the easing of restrictions on April 12th. The government's move to Step 2 provided the biggest reopening of the economy since the pandemic began, with outdoor venues including pubs and restaurants being given the go ahead. Non-essential retail shops such as hairdressers and clothes shops could also begin to open their doors again. The rule of six in outdoor spaces continued to be enforced.
India was also added to the UK's "red list" after a significant rise in cases following the discovery of the Delta variant.

May 2021

As the economy began to bounce back, further restrictions were eased on May 17th. The number of people allowed to gather rose to 30 people, with the rule of six allowed for indoor spaces for social gatherings. Hospitality venues could also open indoors, following government guidelines.
Mass gatherings were also trialled in May, with up 10,000 people allowed to attend large-scale events like football matches. Non-essential international travel was cautiously permitted, allowing holidaymakers to visit countries on the "green" and "amber" lists.

June 2021

In June, the Delta variant – first discovered in India – became the dominant strain of coronavirus and drove a third wave in infections across the UK.
The big increase in diagnoses delayed the government's final major easing of restrictions, including the scrapping of the rule of six in indoor spaces. All legal restrictions would thus be lifted one month later in July.

July 2021

At the beginning of the month, the government confirmed that cases had sufficiently stabilised to confirm the easing of all remaining restrictions – including the wearing of face masks and social distancing. Boris Johnson announced that following restrictions would become a "personal choice".
July 19th was dubbed "Freedom Day", as the country fully opened up as it had been before the pandemic hit. Fully vaccinated people could now visit nightclubs and large-scale music events such as festivals. Those returning from "amber" list countries after getting two jabs would also no longer need to quarantine.

August 2021

As restrictions across England came to an end, Scotland and Wales chose to delay the full easing of limits until early August. But as children went back to education in Scotland, over 60 schools had confirmed Covid outbreaks, threatening the likelihood of a long-term end to restrictions.
Across the UK, vaccination numbers continued to rise, with 75% of adults in England receiving at least one dose of an approved vaccine. The immunisation effort was also extended to 16 and 17-year-olds to drive full immunity.

September 2021

While the number of confirmed Covid cases worldwide surpassed 7 million, the UK was emerging from the pandemic. The furlough scheme, brought in at the beginning of the pandemic, was formally ended – funding £70 billion of people's wages.
The government also announced its winter plan to prepare for a possible spike in infections. This included booster jabs with priority for the elderly and vulnerable risk groups. 12-15-year-olds also became eligible to receive a first dose.

October 2021

Covid passports came to divide the UK, as Scotland and Wales brought in respective schemes to control the spread of the Delta variant. Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced that the NHS would receive an extra £5.9 billion in funding in the Budget.
International travel also returned to normal, with the scrapping of the travel list system. Washington D.C. also revealed that fully vaccinated British travellers could travel to the United States – for the first time in 20 months.

November 2021

As the country continued to come out from the pandemic, booster jabs were made available to those aged 40 and over. But towards the end of November, concerns were raised about a new mutation of the virus that had originated from southern Africa. Cases began to rise across the world as the newly named Omicron variant spread rapidly across the world. Flights were stopped to southern African nations including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Face coverings were also made mandatory once again in shops and on public transport.

December 2021

With the rising threat of Omicron, concern over whether restrictions should be reimposed. The Omicron variant spread across the country, and became the dominant strain of coronavirus being discovered by the middle of December. To combat the mutation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought in the government's 'Plan B', which once again mandated face coverings, as well as the introduction of Covid passes. However, support for the government's plans was at an all time low, with 100 Tory MPs going against the Prime Minister.

January 2022

On the 27th January, Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead to lift the restrictions, from face coverings to being no longer mandatory to NHS Covid-19 Pass becoming voluntary. At the same time, Scotland also eased Omicron restrictions on indoor settings, with social distancing being scrapped in hospitality.
Boris Johnson was in the limelight after alleged gatherings held during the first lockdown. With Number 10 facing a number of questions from the opposition over 'Partygate.

February 2022

The Queen tested positive for Covid-19 in February and experienced mild symptoms, after it was confirmed she had been in direct contact with her eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has set out his plans for "living with Covid", indicating that self-isolation would be lifted a month earlier.

March & April 2022

In March, all remaining travel restrictions were lifted for entering the UK. From the 18th of March, Passenger Locator Forms and pre-travel tests to the UK were scrapped, leading to a massive welcoming from the air travel industry. Face coverings would also be gradually phased out on airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. In April is was announced that children between 5 and 11 would be offered a covid-19 vaccine.

May 2022

The Met police investigated reports of gatherings at Downign Street and fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak for attending such events. Boris Johnson apologised in parliament but refused to say much more until the Sue Gray report came out. When that report was finally published it said senior leadership must 'bear responsibility'

June 2022

In the week ending 25 June an estimated 1,829,100 people tested positive for covid in England—around one in 30 people—according to the ONS coronavirus infection survey. A week earlier that rate was one in 40. Experts believe these increased rates were likely driven by the growth of the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.

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