Legislation to make add the COVID vaccine to the list of compulsory vaccinations in care settings in England was passed by the House of Commons last week and by the House of Lords last night.
The regulations, which are currently in draft form but are expected to pass into law shortly, will amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, to require the registered person for nursing and personal care in care homes to make sure, subject to certain exceptions, no one enters a care home unless they provide evidence of vaccination. They will come into force 16 weeks from the date they are passed into law.
The Cabinet Officer and the Department of Health and Social Care also published separate confirmation that, in exceptional circumstances, fully vaccinated key workers in specific sectors (including care) will be exempt from close contact isolation. To find out more about the newly announced exemptions, please visit here
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