Nothing has changed. Health Secretary Sajid Javid issues new diktat for unvaccinated NHS and Social Care staff that means you either pledge allegiance to big pharma or get removed from frontline patient care.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid updated Parliament on vaccines as a condition of deployment.
In the statement Sajid Javid said:
"It has always been this government’s expectation that everyone gets vaccinated against COVID-19, especially those people working in health and social care settings, who have a professional duty to do so...
It was clear that vaccination was the very best way to keep vulnerable people safe from Delta because quite simply, if you’re not infected, you can’t infect someone else. Balanced against this clear benefit was the risk that there would always be some people who would not do the responsible thing and choose to remain unvaccinated and in doing so, choosing to walk away from their jobs in health and care...
Despite it being their choice to leave their jobs, we have to consider the impact on the workforce in NHS and social care settings. Especially at a time when we already had a shortage of workers and near full employment across the economy...
While vaccination remains our very best line of defence against COVID-19, I believe it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment through statute.
So, Madam Deputy Speaker, today I am announcing that we will launch a consultation on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and all social care settings. Subject to the responses – and the will of this House – the government will revoke the regulations.
I have always been clear that our rules must remain proportionate and balanced – and of course, should we see another dramatic change in the virus, it would be responsible to review this policy again.
Some basic facts remain: vaccines save lives, and everyone working in health and social care has a professional duty to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
So, while we will seek to end vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and social care settings using statute, I am taking the following steps:
First, I have written to professional regulators operating across health to ask them to urgently review current guidance to registrants on vaccinations, including COVID-19, to emphasise their professional responsibilities in this area.
"Second, I have asked the NHS to review its policies on the hiring of new staff and the deployment of existing staff, taking into account their vaccination status."
And third, I’ve asked my officials to consult on updating my department’s code of practice, which applies to all CQC registered providers of all healthcare and social care in England.
They will consult on strengthening requirements in relation to COVID-19 including reflecting the latest advice on infection prevention control."
Although the Government has removed the diktat from statute books, the policy remains in place and will be implemented by HR departments who have already begun to apply it in many Trusts. Simple misdirection in The House means that the Government can appear to be relaxing policy whilst in reality changing nothing.
All NHS Trusts have been instructed by the Government to review staff vaccination status and gain 'commitment' from those in patient-facing roles to get the Covid Vaccine or face losing their job. The deadline may have been scrapped but being fully vaccinated is still a condition of future employment.