Legislation was passed by the UK Parliament on 6th January 2022 meaning that all staff who work in health and social care settings regulated by the Care Quality Commission will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by 1 April 2022. Fully vaccinated means having had two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The new rules apply to staff across secondary and primary care services in both the public and independent sectors. Staff with some officially approved exemptions may continue to be deployed without being vaccinated.
We are aware that it is a live issue and we will be continuing to update the page as more guidance is made available.
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Timetable for implementation
- 3 February 2022: last day to get the first vaccine dose
- 31 March 2022: last day to get the second vaccine dose
Video
Listen to why Sabrina decided to get the Covid 19 vaccine.
Just like many of use, Sabrina had reasons for being hesitant about taking the vaccine. Listen to her reasons and how she came to the decision of taking the vaccine.
"I've taken the vaccine to protect myself but also to protect our vulnerable patients."
Further information
The regulations apply to all health and care staff who have face-to-face patient and/or service user contact, and are deployed as part of CQC regulated activity. This also applies to:
- agency workers
- volunteers
- locums
- students
- trainees
- contracted staff deployed for the provision of a regulated activity
Providers will be contacting staff who maybe within the scope of the regulations to offer support and explain next steps.
Please do reach out to us on the chat or request a call back if you would like to speak with a member of our team.
You may be exempt from taking the COVID-19 vaccine if you:
- are under 18 years old
- are officially clinically exempt
- have a short-term medical condition
- taken part or is currently taking part in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine
I’m pregnant. Am I exempt from taking the vaccine?
Pregnancy falls under the exemption of a short-term medical condition. However, the exemption expires 16 weeks after childbirth.
Further details are available on the Gov.UK website. If you are still unsure of whether you are exempt or not, please seek advice from your employer and Trust intranet pages for further information.
Concerns about the vaccine can be varied, whether in relation to possible side effects, in response to social media posts or other understandable concerns and worries
Millions of people across the UK and the world have now received the Covid-19 vaccination. In doing so they have helped protect themselves, their families and others.
Further information in different languages about the vaccine and details of how to book or visit a walk-in clinic can be found on the South East London Clinical Commission Group (SEL CCG) website and the SEL vaccination website respectively.
Below are some useful resources to check your knowledge on the vaccines:
- health & care professions council: vaccinations - what you need to know
- Nursing & Midwifery Council: Information about vaccines
- British Medical Association: Covid-19 - vaccines information
- British Islamic Medical Association: Vaccine Myths
- Royal College of Nursing: Covid-19 and vaccination FAQs
- Unison: Covid-19 Immunisation of NHS Staff
- GMB: Vaccination
- Carribean & African Health Network: COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for Black African and Black African Caribbean communities
- Healthy London Partnership: Responding to vaccine hesitancy
- Manchester University NHS FT: Covid-19 Vaccine Mythbusters
- The Health Depot: Covid-19 Vaccines Explained
- University of Sunderland: Busting the vaccine myths
- Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership: Myth busting - Covid-19 vaccine
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: guidance on coronavirus
Pregnancy falls under the exemption of a short-term medical condition. However, the exemption expires 16 weeks after childbirth.
Below are useful information on vaccinations, pregnancy and fertility:
- Clinical lead for obstetrics and gynaecology: the importance of getting vaccinated during pregnancy
- Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists: evidence that COVID-19 vaccine is safe in pregnancy
- British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists: Vaccine FAQ
- Royal College of Midwives: Covid-19 infection in pregnancy
Health and care providers are working together with staff across south east London in implementing the regulations in line with clear and transparent processes and in line with local guidance. The initial guidance for the first phase of implementation is also available on the NHS website.
Click here for guidance on discussing the covid vaccine with your staff.
Check out our Resources for Leaders page for resources on how to have wellbeing conversations with your team.
The fear of needles is very common and is something that can be managed with help.
Below are some resources with quick tips and techniques:
- Infotagion: The independent, expert fact-checking service for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Sourced from WHO, UK and other official government advice.
- SHARE checklist: Guide for how to spot false and misleading content.
- Ofcom: A set of resources to help cut through the confusion and provide people with the tools to navigate news and information about Covid-19. Resources include Tools for fact-checking; tips on debunking misleading claims; and support for parents and children.
- Gov.uk: reasons you could get a medical exemption.
Videos on the Covid-19 vaccine
Please do reach out to us on the chat or request a call back if you would like to discuss this news further.