LONDON: The British government said all health care staff who worked with the public had to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus starting in April, although his concern could push thousands of people to quit their work.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday that 90% of staff in national health services funded by the state had received two doses of vaccines.
But it made more than 100,000 health workers not vaccinated.
Javid told MPs at the House of Commons that, while vaccination is not mandatory for most people, health workers “bring unique responsibilities” because they are related to the most vulnerable disease.
He said the mandate would not apply until April 1, which would give all the time staff to receive two doses.
There will be exceptions for those who are medically free and staff who do not meet community members.
The change applies in the UK.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own health rules.
The trade union has opposed to making mandatory vaccinations, saying it can drive some staff to get out of a stretched health system.
Labor health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said there was a risk “that a policy, however was commendable in principle, could worsen some of these chronic abuse problems.” The government has needed nursing home staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19, with Thursday deadlines.
Javid said that because the rules were announced, the number of treated care workers who were not vaccinated down from 88,000 to 32,000.
England is one of the world’s first country to start coronavirus vaccination, but, as in many countries, the campaign has slowed to crawl after a strong start.
About 80% of people above 12 in the UK have two doses of vaccines.
The British also offers a third booster dose to people at high risk of viruses, including every person above 50.
UK has recorded almost 142,000 Coronavirus deaths, the highest total in Europe after Russia.