Health secretary announces consultation, but operators fear it could worsen staff shortages
Staff in care homes could be required to have a Covid-19 vaccination, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has confirmed, saying only around half of the facilities have enough people vaccinated to provide minimum protection against the virus.
Inoculation could become a condition of employment from this summer, Hancock said, as he announced a five-week consultation and revealed staff vaccination rates were still below 70% in 27 different areas of the UK, despite care workers being in the highest priority category for jabs.
