Covid vaccine mandate has human cost on care sector
The National Care Forum has set out the âhuman costâ of England's new Covid vaccine mandate, which came into effect on Thursday, forcing 8% of staff to leave their job despite the industry already being under severe pressure.
The chief executive of the National Care Forum, Vic Rayner, warned the government that the social care sector will suffer a significant âhuman costâ due to the introduction of the Covid vaccine mandate, as unvaccinated staff leave their posts.
âItâs really challenging for organisations all across the country and I think thereâs a very human cost,â Rayner told the BBC, noting that 8% of staff are having to quit due to the vaccine mandate despite overwhelming pressure on the sector.
With existing demand for staff putting pressure on the social care sector, Rayner warned that losing workers who are unvaccinated will mean that âpeople who need care who arenât currently in receipt of itâ will be âunable to get it.â
Previously, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said care home staff would need to either get the Covid vaccine or seek alternative employment, refusing to postpone plans to force these workers to be inoculated against coronavirus.
Care home staff have been vocal in their opposition to the vaccine mandate, with employees at two facilities seeking a judicial review of the requirement, believing it is âunlawful and unnecessary.â However, the health secretary pressed ahead, stating the measure is necessary to fully protect patients against the virus, and the mandate came into effect on Thursday.
Concern from the social care sector over the mandate follows a government announcement that the inoculation requirement will be rolled out to NHS England in the next few months.
The UK government has been undeterred by warnings from social care and NHS staff that they cannot cope with the current workload, as the health service faces the dual threat of Covid cases and the winter flu. A recent survey of 450 leaders in the NHS showed that 90% believe the pressure facing the health service is âunsustainable.â
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