Nowhere is vaccination more important than in our health and social care system. It has always been the expectation that everyone gets the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those working in health and care settings who have a professional duty to do so.
All COVID-19 measures are kept under constant review and vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and care settings is no exception. When this was consulted on, evidence showed that vaccine effectiveness against infection from the dominant, and more severe, Delta variant was between 65 and 80 per cent. It was clear that vaccination was the best way to keep vulnerable people safe. Given this, I believe it was the right policy at the right time, supported by clinical evidence and I was pleased to vote in favour of this measure. Indeed, we have seen a net increase of 127,000 NHS workers and 32,000 social care workers being vaccinated.
However, given that Delta has been replaced by Omicron, it is welcome that this policy has been reviewed. With the population as a whole better protected against hospitalisation, and Omicron being intrinsically less severe, the Government has concluded that it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment through statute.
Following a successful booster rollout and with workforce challenges remaining, the balance of opportunities and risks of this policy have now changed. Subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval, the legal requirement for health and social care staff to be vaccinated will be removed. Those working in these sectors still have an important professional duty to get vaccinated and it is welcome that so many have taken the decision to do so.
I will of course be monitoring the consultation closely and await further information ahead of any Parliamentary vote.