ARE CARE HOME STAFF REFUSING VACCINATIONS?
NEARLY one in five staff working in North East and Yorkshire care homes for the elderly have still not been vaccinated – even though they were first in queue for a Covid-19 vaccine.
The NHS figures suggest more than 13,000 care home workers in the region are refusing the jab.
It comes as the Government is set to announce it has met its target of offering a vaccine to everyone aged 50 and over and will now start to vaccinate people in their 40s.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised to vaccinate all over-50s by April 15 but appears to have met the target with days to spare.
Residents and staff in care homes for older adults were first in line to be vaccinated when the programme began in January.
It meant staff of all ages were given priority over very elderly people who were not in care homes.
However, NHS figures show just 81.8% of eligible care home staff in the North East and Yorkshire have been vaccinated.
There are 74,558 care home staff eligible for the vaccine because they work in homes where at least some of the residents are aged 65 or more.
The same staff may also be eligible for other reasons, for example because they are over 50 – but just 61,011 of these have had at least one dose of a vaccine. It means 13,547 have not been vaccinated.
The NHS figures do not explain why staff are turning the vaccine down but a survey published of care homes in Birmingham’s suburb suggested misinformation about vaccines may be a cause.
Managers said staff were refusing vaccines because they believed they were “poisonous” or “cause infertility” despite these myths having been disproved.
It’s particularly worrying because research increasingly suggests vaccines don’t only protect the people who take them but also other people around them.
Initially, scientists thought vaccines might simply reduce the symptoms of coronavirus but it’s become clear they also reduce the chances of catching the virus, and passing it on to others.
A study led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine reduces infections by 90% while a single dose confers 80% protection.
The Government is expected to start offering the vaccine to people in their late 40s from today.
Some local health authorities have already started doing this but it will now become the official Englandwide policy.
Government scientists are also considering whether to offer priority vaccination to regular travellers, Premier League footballers, hauliers and diplomats.
England’s non-essential shops, hairdressers, pub beer gardens and pavement cafes reopened yesterday as the coronavirus lockdown eased.
The Prime Minister urged the nation to “behave responsibly” as life took another step back towards normality with indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoos also welcoming customers.
Despite the relaxation in rules, social mixing indoors will remain heavily restricted with around two in five adults yet to receive their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and the vast majority yet to have both.
Mr Johnson said: “I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly.”