Calls to delay or abandon mandatory vaccinations
By Gemma Raw
MPs, healthcare unions and others have warned that plans for mandatory vaccination are unwise against a backdrop of NHS staff shortages and loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. With the deadline rapidly approaching, there have been strong calls either to delay or abandon the mandatory vaccination plans. MPs, healthcare unions and other organisations are concerned that losing a large number of critical staff will put added strain on a health service which is already struggling to cope with COVID pressures, increased demand, a backlog of non-emergency care and staff shortages. There are already around 40,000 registered nurse vacancies in the NHS in England.
MPs challenge PM
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was challenged in the House of Commons to rethink the mandatory vaccination policy. A number of back-bench MPs expressed concerns about the effects on exhausted NHS staff who continue to face unrelenting pressure as COVID restrictions are relaxed. They included former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Chair of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee.
However, at the moment the PM is standing firm, responding that the plan is supported by the NHS and that healthcare workers have a 'professional responsibility' to get the jab. "Ensuring staff are vaccinated is the right thing to do to protect patients and those in care," said a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson.
What is the mandatory vaccination policy in the UK?
Previously only applicable in nursing and care homes, the vaccine mandate now covers all frontline healthcare staff in CQC regulated provision in England. Doctors, nursing staff and allied health professionals must be vaccinated by 1 April, which means that they must have their first jab by 3 February. Anyone who fails to meet the deadline will be redeployed to a non-patient facing role, or dismissed if that isn't possible.
Divided opinion
The mandatory vaccination policy has divided opinion since it was announced in January. A survey by NHS Providers found that, while trust leaders are concerned about adding to staff shortages at a time when the service is under huge operational pressure, the majority of them still back the policy. However, compulsory vaccination is opposed by several organisations, including the Royal College of GPs, the Society of Radiographers (SoR) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), which represents over 60,000 physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers. Although they recognise the importance of healthcare staff being vaccinated, they prefer encouragement and persuasion to compulsion.
"We strongly oppose making the COVID vaccine mandatory, " argued CSP Chief Executive Karen Middleton, when the idea was first aired in November last year. "We believe all healthcare professionals should get vaccinated if appropriate but we also believe we need greater engagement with those who are hesitant to understand their position and see what can be done."
Soon after the mandatory vaccination law came into effect, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) called on Health Secretary Sajid Javid to delay implementation because of staff shortages. In a blog on the RCN website, the College expressed concern about the impact of the new law, with high levels of staff absence due to COVID-19 leaving services so stretched that patient safety is at risk.
"We're calling on the government to recognise the risk and delay a move which, by its own calculations, looks set to backfire," commented RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen. "To dismiss valued nursing staff during this crisis would be an act of self-sabotage."
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