Calls for Covid-19 vaccine to be made mandatory condition of care home employment in Wales

There are growing calls to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for care workers working in care homes in Wales as a condition of their employment to protect residents from the virus.

The plea from Care Forum Wales was given added momentum after the Department of Health and Social Care in England announced they were looking at plans to make the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all care home staff.

Care Forum Wales chair Mario Kreft believes care homes are duty-bound to do everything in their power to protect their residents and staff and believe care homes should be allowed to "refuse to recruit anybody" who has not been vaccinated.

With experts predicting a third wave, Mr Kreft says it would be a “big mistake to think we are out of the woods” just yet.

Mr Kreft said: “It is good news that the consultation is occurring in England because hopefully this can pave the way for a similar approach here in Wales.

“In terms of staff being inoculated, some homes are doing incredibly well, we’ve heard stories of 100 per cent take up but others are struggling.

“At a time like this, we really need to be thinking of other people, not just ourselves – rather than potentially putting residents, colleagues and possibly members of our own families at risk. We should use every lever at our disposal to ensure this does not happen.”

Care Forum Wales is warning care homes will need to be proactive again to protect residents and staff from Covid-19. The families of residents will want assurances the staff looking after their loved ones "are vaccinated".

Mr Kreft added: “It is clearly sensible that care homes should be allowed to refuse to recruit anybody who has not been vaccinated.”

’If we were dealing with smallpox nobody would be arguing about the need to have a jab’

It was a sentiment echoed by Care Forum Wales Council member Sanjiv Joshi. He said: “If you’re working in a care home, your mission is to care and protect your residents – that’s your solemn promise.

“If we were dealing with smallpox nobody would be arguing about the need to have a jab – let’s not forget in the UK, we have already had 25,000 deaths related to Covid-19 in care homes.

“If one of your relatives is going to be in a care home, you would be more comfortable if the residents and staff were vaccinated.

"The science is very clear that the vaccine reduces serious symptoms and the number of deaths. Not only are you protecting the residents, but you are also protecting yourself and your family."

Some care home providers including Barchester, Care UK and Advinia Healthcare have already taken the decision to make vaccination mandatory, although there are exemptions such as if the employee is pregnant.