Social care jab 'fudge' too late for tens of thousands sick with worry

11th hour guidance provides some clarity but comes far too late in the day for carers who have spent months thinking they’d be sacked

The Governments social care vaccine ‘fudge’ has caused unnecessary stress and worry for tens of thousands of carers, says GMB Union. 

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: 

“GMB has been calling on the Government to reverse their appalling decision to force vaccination on social care key workers from the start. 

“We warned it could cause a mass exodus in a sector already facing a 170,000 staffing black hole. 

“Now, at the eleventh hour, they’ve fudged it. It’s cowardly, incompetent and inhumane.” 

“More than 90% of social care workers have had their first vaccine - yet Ministers were pushing ahead despite calls for them to do more to address vaccine hesitancy amongst workers in the sector. 

“‘While today's guidance will provide clarity for some - it’s also come far too late in the day for carers who have spent months sick with stress, and many care workers will still be left worrying about being sacked.”