Covid vaccines mandatory for care home staff from November 11

5 August 2021, 23:06

Care home staff have until September 16 to get their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine
Care home staff have until September 16 to get their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

Coronavirus vaccinations will be compulsory for all staff working in care homes in England from November 11, according to new guidance.

The Government has published guidance to help managers with the change in the law, which applies to all people working in care homes registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) unless they are medically exempt.

As well as care home staff, anyone entering a care home, such as healthcare professionals, CQC inspectors, tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians, must have had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Read more: Anti-vaxxer died from Covid after reading online posts that jabs were too 'experimental'

Read more: Boris Johnson sparks backlash for 'callous' comments over Thatcher mine closures

However, friends and relatives of the care home resident will be exempt from the regulations, as well as residents themselves, members of the emergency services and those offering bereavement support.

Under-18s will also be exempt from the policy but guidance states that once they turn 18 they will not be able to enter the care home until they have had both vaccine doses.

The regulations were approved by MPs last month and will come into force on November 11, with September 16 the last date for staff to get their first dose in order to be fully vaccinated by the time the measures come into force.

Read more: New daily record sees migrant Channel crossings pass 10,000 this year

Read more: Fully-vaccinated arrivals from France no longer need to isolate amid green list changes

Caller backs compulsory vaccinations for care home staff

"We value the incredible work that people in care homes have done over the last 18 months to care for some of the people who are most at risk from Covid-19," the guidance says.

"We want to ensure that care homes are as safe as possible for the staff working in them and the people they care for.

"We believe that the best way to do this is to ensure that everyone who can take up the offer of vaccination, does."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Priti Patel has been named shadow foreign secretary

Kemi Badenoch names Priti Patel shadow foreign secretary as she continues to build leadership team

Bridget Phillipson has confirmed the tuition fee rise

University tuition fees to rise for first time in eight years, as Tories accuse Labour of 'declaring war on students'

Sara Sharif had suffered dozens of injuries in the weeks leading up to her death, a court has heard

Video of Sara Sharif smiling and dancing 'days before murder' shown to court

Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers that no Tube services are expected on Thursday 7 November

November Tube strikes to bring London to a halt this week despite RMT calling off action

Stuart Gogg during the Six Nations rugby match between France and Scotland in Saint-Denis, 26 February 2023

Former Scotland rugby captain pleads guilty to domestic abuse over five-year period against former partner

Kie Joyce, 21, was sentenced for his role in at least 35 phone thefts.

WATCH: Moment phone snatchers are arrested in London chicken shop after spree of thefts

One of two assassination attempts made towards the former President was carried out in Pennsylvania

Trump says he would not 'mind' if journalists were shot at Pennsylvania rally

A 10-year-old girl who was mauled to death by her family's dog had a 'close, loving relationship' with the pet that killed her, police have said.

'Devastated' family pay tribute to 'wonderful' 10-year-old girl mauled to death by pet dog

Trump has been fixated on crowd sizes throughout this election cycle

Trump's latest crowd size brag backfires as camera pans to reveal sea of empty seats

Harris overtakes Trump in new polls as VP's rally is moved due to safety concerns on eve of 'knife-edge' US election

Harris overtakes Trump in new polls as VP's rally is moved due to safety concerns on eve of 'knife-edge' US election

Tuition fees are set to rise with inflation

Government set to increase university tuition fees for first time in eight years

Kris Finney has been missing since Thursday

British man missing in Tenerife not seen for three days as Foreign Office issues statement

A 'severed head' was discovered in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Partygoers mistook severed head for Halloween prank after 74-year-old man 'decapitated' in 'tragic' Edinburgh incident

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Police have launched an appeal to find missing artist Sarah Cunningham after she vanished in the early hours of Saturday in Camden.

Police searching for missing artist Sarah Cunningham find body on tracks

Deliveroo reveals its most ordered dishes with chicken wings, Caesar salads and a whole cucumber leading the list

Deliveroo reveals its most ordered dishes with chicken wings, Caesar salad and a whole cucumber leading the list