Care England has warned that mandatory Covid jab rules for the adult social care workforce that come into effect next month could place an unsustainable burden on providers.
Responding to the Department of Health and Social Care consultation on making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector, the trade body stated concerns around the potential timeframe for the policy.
“Mandating the Covid-19 and/or flu vaccination, in addition to enormous workforce pressures, could only intensify the difficulties currently experienced by providers and may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many providers,” it said.
Care England urged the government to listen to the sector “in order that any unintended consequences, namely the potential disruption to the delivery of health and care services, can be avoided”.
“If vaccination for Covid-19 and/or flu is legislated as a condition of deployment for the wider social care sector, due consideration must be lent to the timeframe for its imposition and it must be accompanied by commensurate resources and funding,” said chief executive Martin Green.
“Adult social care providers are in the midst of a perfect storm. Providers are currently operating against a backdrop of a multitude of workforce pressures and need government assistance as outlined in our ongoing correspondence with the Secretary of State,” he added.
