All GPS should have vaccination, BMA rules

ALL doctors should be vaccinated against Covid unless medically exempt, the British Medical Association (BMA) has ruled.

The motion was presented at its annual representative meeting yesterday and passed by 73 per cent of delegates.

It comes after the Government launched a consultation on mandatory jabs for frontline health workers.

Previously, the Government said all staff in registered care homes in England must be vaccinated against Covid from Nov 11, unless medically exempt.

Proposing the motion, Dr Jacky Davis said: “The best way to protect ourselves, our colleagues, our patients, is to get vaccinated. But what happens when reasonable alternatives have been explored, and people still refuse? Then vaccines must be made mandatory for those who want to stay on the front line. It should be a last resort, but it has to be an option.”

Speaking against the motion, Dr Zishan Syed said that he was not opposed to vaccinations but against mandatory vaccinations. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the BMA council’s chair, stressed the motion was not about mandating vaccines.

He said: “We shouldn’t just be talking about double vaccinations. We must make sure we have Covid-secure health-care settings, because otherwise you almost run the risk of giving the impression that doctors being doublevaccinated can go to work, and somehow everything’s OK.

“But in fact, you still can get Covid after a double vaccination, and you still can actually transmit. All of those other measures must take place as well.”