It was confirmed yesterday (16/6) that anybody working in a care home for residents requiring nursing or personal care must have both vaccine doses.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the new legislation, which will be coming into place from October 2021, subject to parliamentary approval and a subsequent 16-week grace period.
It is also being considered whether this rule will be implemented for NHS workers, but it will not apply to those who have a medical exemption.
This decision has been made as it is believed that some 50,000 carers across the country are currently unvaccinated.
Speaking at a meeting earlier this year, Cllr Pete Marland, who is the Leader of Milton Keynes Council, said that an increasing number of families of people in care homes were concerned about staff remaining unvaccinated.
This new legislation is an attempt to try and reduce transmission in hospitals and other close-contact settings.
Speaking yesterday, Matt Hancock said: "After careful consultation we've decided to take this proposal forward to protect residents.
"The vast majority of staff in care homes are already vaccinated but not all, and we know that the vaccine not only protects you but protects those around you.
"Therefore we will be taking forward the measures to ensure the mandation as a condition of deployment for staff in care homes and we will consult on the same approach in the NHS in order to save lives and protect patients from disease."
He added: "This is the right thing to do and a vitally important step to continue protecting care homes now and in the future. I'd urge anyone working in care homes to get their jab as soon as possible."
