As Covid vaccines for care home staff are set to become compulsory by the autumn, the Isle of Wight Council’s adult social care boss has renewed calls for everyone to get vaccinated.
From October, anyone working in a Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered care home in England must have had two Covid-19 vaccines unless they have a medical exemption.
Recruitment concerns
MPs approved the regulations last week, by 319 votes to 246, despite care organisations previously warning compulsory vaccinations could potentially cause further difficulties in a sector that already struggles to recruit enough staff.
The move follows a consultation by the Department for Health and Social Care but no impact assessment of the policy was published before the vote, something MPs criticised.
Wragg: Government treating the House with “utter contempt”
Conservative MP William Wragg said he was in despair, and the government was treating the House with utter contempt.
He said,
“Ninety minutes on a statutory instrument to fundamentally change the balance of human rights in this country is nothing short of a disgrace.”
Four in five IW staff in adult care homes fully vaccinated
Latest figures from NHS England shows up to 11th July, four in five staff at adult care homes for older people on the Island have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Of the 2,424 staff in older adult care homes, 2,082 have had their first dose (86.1 per cent), with 1,963 (81.2) having their second.
81 per cent in homes for younger people
In adult care homes for younger people, independently registered with the CQC, 88.6 per cent of staff (163) have had their first vaccine with 81 per cent fully vaccinated.
Cllr Karl Love, the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for adult social care and public health said the Island’s compulsory care home vaccination efforts are on track, but is was important for everyone to have their vaccinations.
71 per cent of Islanders have had first vaccination
Across the Island’s entire population 71 per cent have had their first vaccination and 60.5 per cent their second.
A number of walk-in clinics have been arranged at the Riverside Centre, in Newport, for people to get either their first or second vaccine without needing to book an appointment.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
