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Care workers in Scotland will not be forced to receive Covid-19 vaccination

This news post is almost 3 years old
 

The Scottish Government has said it will not follow Westminster's plans to force carers to have the jab

Care home staff in Scotland will not be forced to get the coronavirus vaccine, the Scottish Government has said.

It comes as the UK government is set to announce that workers in England must be required to get jabbed.

However a similar policy will not be introduced in Scotland. The uptake of the Covid jab among care home staff in Scotland has been high since the programme was rolled out, with Public Health Scotland data revealing a total of 50,380 care home staff have been fully vaccinated.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Vaccination remains critical in the fight against Covid-19 and health and social care workers have been among those prioritised for the vaccine, with the overwhelming majority taking it up.

"The response from care home staff in Scotland to the call to take up their vaccinations has been fantastic. Uptake has been exceptionally high, and the total number of staff who have had both doses of the vaccine actually exceeds the originally projected cohort.

"We’ve worked with the care home sector and staff to engage with them and discuss any concerns they had. The result of listening and engaging positively with the workforce has been the exceptionally high levels of care home staff vaccination in Scotland.

"We currently have no plans to make vaccinations mandatory for health and social care staff as it’s clear that these caring staff in Scotland are overwhelmingly making the choice to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their residents.

"We will continue to keep this position under review."

Under the plans in England, staff working with adults will be given 16 weeks to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs, reports have claimed.

A spokesperson for Unison Scotland said: “Vaccinations are the way out of this pandemic, but forcing staff to get jabbed is counter-productive.

“In Scotland, there is an agreement in place between the STUC and the Scottish Government that vaccinations will be voluntary, and that take-up should be encouraged by reassuring and educating people on the benefits of vaccination.

“The care sector is facing huge staff shortages. This already dire situation will only get worse if employees feel coerced and unsupported.”

Scottish Care, the body representing independent care providers in Scotland, says such a mandate from the UK government has “little relevance” for Scotland where efforts have been ploughed into encouraging voluntary participation in the vaccine programme and virtually all staff have now been vaccinated.

A spokesperson said: “The Scottish approach to date has been one of close partnership working between the sector, the NHS and the Scottish government.

“We have sought to develop a policy and practice of information and encouragement rather than mandating and instructing.”

 

Comments

0 0
sharon
almost 3 years ago

Forcing anyone to get the jab is against their human rights!!!

0 0
L
over 2 years ago

If vaccine is proctecting from covid, care home residents are going to be safe as they all have been vaccinated.

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Nicola
over 2 years ago

Today is the day my work have sent the letter for me to take the vaccine or lose my job as a fair dismissal- other substantive reason, I don't say anything about whether people take the vaccine or not but now I'm being forced even though I have refused as I DO NOT WANT OR AGREE WITH THE VACCINE

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Isabel
over 2 years ago

Research now shows that even with the vaccine you can still get Covid 19 and pass it on . Also those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not vaccinated, have the same virus levels in their nose and throat and have the same potential to pass on the disease even if they are protected against serious illness. The vaccine only protects you. Wearing a mask using hand gel keeping your distance protects others. It should be your own personal choice if you get vaccinated ....

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Gary Hendrie
over 2 years ago

This is all fine and well, the Scottish government saying no one will be forced to be vaccinated. Well my wife was in a meeting yesterday with a HC1 HR rep and was told her employment will be terminated on 16th September as she continues to refuse this. So this company are blatantly refusing to follow the law in Scotland. The Scottish government are no better and have washed their hands of it stating it is between you and your employer.

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Nicola
over 2 years ago

Today is the day my work have sent the letter for me to take the vaccine or lose my job as a fair dismissal- other substantive reason, I don't say anything about whether people take the vaccine or not but now I'm being forced even though I have refused as I DO NOT WANT OR AGREE WITH THE VACCINE

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Janie
over 2 years ago

Yeah exactly what choice do vulnerable service users have …get the jag ..or move on . And yeah double vaccinated people are still contracting COVID …but they’re symptoms are Generally less sever ..and it reduces the chance from contracting the virus . AND PASSING IT ON . Hang your head in Shame .

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Jock
over 2 years ago

What about the human rights of vulnerable people? Shame on you.

Commenting is now closed on this post