The legal requirement for health and social care staff to be double jabbed will be removed from 15th March.
- Regulations requiring COVID-19 vaccination to work in Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care homes to be lifted from 15th March
- Legal requirement for health and social care staff to be double jabbed from 1st April to be removed
Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment in health and social care will be revoked on Tuesday 15th March, the Health and Social Care Secretary has said.
The announcement follows a public consultation, where 90% of responses supported the removal of the legal requirement for health and social care staff to be double jabbed.
In January, the government confirmed its intention to revoke vaccination as a condition of deployment, subject to consultation.
Easing of Restrictions
A government statement added: “With the population better protected and lower levels of hospitalisations and mortality, it was right to revisit the balance of risks and benefits that had guided the government’s original decisions to introduce vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and social care. The number of restrictions, rules and regulations are now being reduced – including this requirement.
While the vast majority of NHS, social care and other healthcare staff have been double jabbed, the government is clear those working in health and social care who remain unvaccinated still have a professional responsibility to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and Get Boosted Now.”
The government is continuing to work closely with royal colleges and professional regulators to strengthen guidance and consult on updating the code of practice on the prevention and control of infections in relation to COVID-19 requirements for CQC registered providers of health and social care in England.
Further information