No Vaccine no NHS job says Chris Whitty
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 7:20 am
No jab, no NHS job? Professor Chris Whitty says covid vaccines could be compulsory for medics and care staff because all workers should want to get inoculated voluntarily anyway
Having Covid jab could become compulsory for NHS workers and care workers
Professor Chris Whitty said he expects medics to take the vaccine voluntarily
Only 64 per cent of staff at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS took vaccine
A Covid jab could become compulsory for NHS workers and care home staff, as England's chief medical officer says they have a 'professional responsibility' to get vaccinated.
Speaking on Monday Professor Chris Whitty said he expects doctors and care workers to take the vaccine voluntarily, suggesting that they should want to do anything they can to reduce the risk Covid poses to their patients.
He told the government press briefing: 'My view is clearly for medical staff, where I am subject to the same code, it is a professional responsibility for doctors to do things which help protect their patients, and I expect that to be a professional responsibility for all other health and social care staff as well.'
Despite Professor Whitty's expectations a study earlier this month found that only 64 per cent of staff at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust had taken up the offer to get their first dose by February 3.
While uptake was 71 per cent in white medics, the highest of any group, it plunged to half this level in black staff. This was despite research showing BAME groups are at higher risk of serious illness and death if they catch the virus.
It was also lower among South Asians, where only 60 per cent had received their first dose.
Doctors at the trust — the only occupation with a majority of BAME employees — were also least likely to get the jab, after only 57 per cent turned up to appointments.
And under-30s were less likely to get the jab than their older colleagues, which experts feared could be down to perceptions they are not at high risk from the virus.
Asked about the results earlier this month, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on doctors and nurses to get their jabs saying: 'It's important for your patients and of course it is important for the whole of society that we get this to as many people as possible.'
The comments from Professor Whitty come as Boris Johnson yesterday unveiled an ultra-cautious 'roadmap' out of lockdown by June - with schools reopening in a fortnight but little else set to change for months.
Flanked by Professor Whitty and Patrick Vallance as he defended his long-awaited four-phase exit strategy at a No10 briefing, the PM stated that 'Covid zero' was not possible and the return to normality must begin even though cases will rise.
However, Mr Johnson made clear he was prioritising 'certainty over urgency', saying he is being as 'dynamic as possible in the circumstances' and the 'crocus of hope' is starting to appear.
Professor Whitty and Sir Patrick said there are still very significant numbers of people infected with Covid and going to fast risked the outbreak spiralling again.
Prof Whitty added: 'There is still a lot of people in hospital with this disease. This is not the end, but this is the point where we can have a steady, risk-based, data-driven opening up.
'But everybody must stick to the guidelines as they go through the different stages, because if we don't do that then we will get to a stage where the rates go up very high and you'll find there are people who are not protected by the vaccinations.
'These are not 100 per cent effective, as the Prime Minister said.'
The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick 'completely' agreed with Prof Whitty, adding: 'The caution of going every five weeks is very important because we need to measure so that we're not flying blind on this.
'We need to know what the impact of the opening up steps are.'
Sir Patrick also suggested that the public needs to be prepared for some restrictions, such as masks, to return next winter.
In the Commons this afternoon, Mr Johnson said the 'threat remains' from the disease and cases, hospitalisations and deaths will rise in the coming months because no vaccines can offer 100 per cent protection for the whole population.
'At every stage our decisions will be led by data not dates,' the premier told MPs.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... hitty.html
Having Covid jab could become compulsory for NHS workers and care workers
Professor Chris Whitty said he expects medics to take the vaccine voluntarily
Only 64 per cent of staff at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS took vaccine
A Covid jab could become compulsory for NHS workers and care home staff, as England's chief medical officer says they have a 'professional responsibility' to get vaccinated.
Speaking on Monday Professor Chris Whitty said he expects doctors and care workers to take the vaccine voluntarily, suggesting that they should want to do anything they can to reduce the risk Covid poses to their patients.
He told the government press briefing: 'My view is clearly for medical staff, where I am subject to the same code, it is a professional responsibility for doctors to do things which help protect their patients, and I expect that to be a professional responsibility for all other health and social care staff as well.'
Despite Professor Whitty's expectations a study earlier this month found that only 64 per cent of staff at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust had taken up the offer to get their first dose by February 3.
While uptake was 71 per cent in white medics, the highest of any group, it plunged to half this level in black staff. This was despite research showing BAME groups are at higher risk of serious illness and death if they catch the virus.
It was also lower among South Asians, where only 60 per cent had received their first dose.
Doctors at the trust — the only occupation with a majority of BAME employees — were also least likely to get the jab, after only 57 per cent turned up to appointments.
And under-30s were less likely to get the jab than their older colleagues, which experts feared could be down to perceptions they are not at high risk from the virus.
Asked about the results earlier this month, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on doctors and nurses to get their jabs saying: 'It's important for your patients and of course it is important for the whole of society that we get this to as many people as possible.'
The comments from Professor Whitty come as Boris Johnson yesterday unveiled an ultra-cautious 'roadmap' out of lockdown by June - with schools reopening in a fortnight but little else set to change for months.
Flanked by Professor Whitty and Patrick Vallance as he defended his long-awaited four-phase exit strategy at a No10 briefing, the PM stated that 'Covid zero' was not possible and the return to normality must begin even though cases will rise.
However, Mr Johnson made clear he was prioritising 'certainty over urgency', saying he is being as 'dynamic as possible in the circumstances' and the 'crocus of hope' is starting to appear.
Professor Whitty and Sir Patrick said there are still very significant numbers of people infected with Covid and going to fast risked the outbreak spiralling again.
Prof Whitty added: 'There is still a lot of people in hospital with this disease. This is not the end, but this is the point where we can have a steady, risk-based, data-driven opening up.
'But everybody must stick to the guidelines as they go through the different stages, because if we don't do that then we will get to a stage where the rates go up very high and you'll find there are people who are not protected by the vaccinations.
'These are not 100 per cent effective, as the Prime Minister said.'
The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick 'completely' agreed with Prof Whitty, adding: 'The caution of going every five weeks is very important because we need to measure so that we're not flying blind on this.
'We need to know what the impact of the opening up steps are.'
Sir Patrick also suggested that the public needs to be prepared for some restrictions, such as masks, to return next winter.
In the Commons this afternoon, Mr Johnson said the 'threat remains' from the disease and cases, hospitalisations and deaths will rise in the coming months because no vaccines can offer 100 per cent protection for the whole population.
'At every stage our decisions will be led by data not dates,' the premier told MPs.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... hitty.html