One in 10 care home jobs at risk over jabs
Government deadline to ensure that workers have had vaccine approaching
NeARly one in 10 care home workers in leicestershire faces losing their job for not getting their Covid vaccinations under way.
All care home staff must have had their first round of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the week or they risk not being double jabbed by the government’s deadline.
leicestershire County Council reported 92.1 per cent of the county’s care home staff have received their first Covid-19 vaccination ahead of today – but this leaves 500 staff still to be jabbed.
Thursday is the last day for staff to receive the first dose in order to be fully vaccinated before government legislation comes into effect in eight weeks requiring all care home staff to be double jabbed if they are to continue in their jobs.
This applies to anyone who enters a care home as part of their job, including hairdressers, tradespeople and taxi drivers, among others.
leicestershire’s director of public health, Mike Sandys, below, has urged all care home workers to make sure they get their first jab by today.
He said: “We are fast approaching the point where those who have not yet got their first dose could run out of time to get the second.
“Vaccination is the best defence against the virus, both for the people they are looking after and themselves.
“With case rates on the rise, it makes sense for everyone to get vaccinated but the coming change in the law means it’s very pressing for care staff.”
The Mercury reported at the end of August that 11 care homes were on a council red list, meaning they were at real risk of having to close due to unvaccinated staff come the November 11 deadline.
This could be because of the number of staff who would not be double jabbed in time or the positions of those staff.
If, for example, a senior staff memor medical staff were unable to work, the care home would be unable to run as normal.
The county council said only one care home remains in the most at risk group.
Cabinet lead member for adult social care, Councillor Christine Radford, thanked the care workers who have been vaccinated.
She said: “Our care workers have been doing a tremendous job throughout the pandemic in the most challenging circumstances. I’m grateful for all their efforts.
“It’s encouraging to see how many of them have been getting vaccinated as the new legislation approaches and I’d like to remind people of the timescales involved so they can be ready for the changes the government requires.”
However, concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the county remain.
A total of 42 care homes are still classed as amber risk. There are also worries that some staff will opt to find new jobs rather than take up the vaccine, potentially leaving care homes without enough staff.
The council said it has been doing all it can to support staff in making the decision to be vaccinated and will continue to do so between now and November 11.
A council spokesman said: “We have been supporting care homes to prepare for the introduction of the new legislation by helping them to make their staff more confident about getber ting the vaccine. There have been virtual question and answer sessions with experts, resources for managers to use with their workers, and vaccination sessions at times and locations which are convenient for staff.
“We have focused on the concerns they have raised and have been having conversations with them to address those issues. “This support will continue as November 11 approaches.” Vaccinations can be booked online through the national booking service or by ringing 119. It is also possible to visit walk-in centres.