Government ‘absolutely thinking about’ compulsory Covid vaccines for NHS staff

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Coronavirus jabs could become compulsory for NHS staff, the vaccines minister has confirmed.

Nadhim Zahawi said there was already a precedent that meant surgeons had to be inoculated against certain diseases.

Asked if Covid jabs could become mandatory for health service workers, he told Trevor Phillips on Sunday on Sky News: “We have recently consulted on social care frontline staff in terms of duty of care to those who are most vulnerable…. I think it is only right that we look at the healthcare system as well … [it] would be incumbent on any responsible government.”

He added it was “something we are absolutely thinking about”.

But the idea was criticised by Labour.

Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow leader of the Commons, likened the move to “threatening” staff. She added: “Given we've got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS I think it’s far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them.”

Mr Zahawi pointed to the fact that surgeons are vaccinated against hepatitis B.

He also said British regulators were still considering whether to offer Covid jabs to children, warning that vaccines had to be “incredibly safe” before they are given to young people.

But the infrastructure is in place in the UK if required, he added.

The Pfizer jab has already been approved for use in 12-year-olds by regulators in the European Union, the US and Canada.

Mr Zahawi also announced that ministers want all over-50s to have been offered a second coronavirus jab before a further easing of lockdown restrictions planned for 21 June.

The new target comes as fears grow over the impact of a highly transmissible variant of the disease first identified in India.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, today described the date as “too early” and said it could lead to deaths that were otherwise preventable.

Ministers announced on 14 May that the gap between vaccines would be cut from 12 weeks to just eight for the over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, as the government tries to control the new strain.

Mr Zahawi has now said that the government “hope to get two doses ... [delivered to] all over-50s before 21 June”, the date all legal limits on social contact are due to be lifted in England.

Last week the prime minister himself appeared to admit those plans could now be in jeopardy. He said he "didn't see anything currently in the data" to derail the June reopening, but added “but we may need to wait."

Prof Bauld told Sky News: “I really think that it is too early to be charging ahead. I would like to see several more weeks’ data.”

The planned date is “very ambitious”, she said, adding: “The 21st of June is very soon and I think to avoid more preventable deaths ... we really need to be cautious at the current time.”