UK scraps vaccine mandate for NHS staff
Published:Monday | January 31, 2022 | 6:15 PM
The United Kingdom has scrapped plans to enforce an order for all National Health Service (NHS) staff in England to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Some 60,000 frontline health workers were set to be dismissed if they were not vaccinated with at least one dose by the February 3 deadline.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs on Monday that it would endanger patient safety by triggering the loss of key personnel from the already understaffed health service.
“While vaccination remains our very best line of defence, I believe it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment by statute," said Javid.
He said he would launch a consultation on ending vaccination as condition of deployment in health and all social care settings.
"Subject to the response and the will of this house, the government will revoke these regulations,” he added.
NHS England immediately wrote to health service leaders to tell them that the change in government policy means they should no longer serve notice of termination to employees affected by the vaccination as a condition of deployment regulations.
Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com