Mandatory covid-19 vaccinations

That this House condemns the Government for twice passing legislation to introduce mandatory covid-19 vaccination of health and care workers in 2021; notes that by Government’s own assessment this will result in up to 115,000 staff members being dismissed, putting severe pressure on NHS and social care, causing additional stress to NHS and care staff and further hindering retention, while NHS pressures and backlog grow; notes the NHS Constitution is clear that healthcare must be delivered by informed consent, through a personal choice; further notes that the legislation will only provide a supported conversation by a line manager, rather than with a professional with appropriate competencies and if staff have not received their first vaccination by 3 February 2022, they will be dismissed; notes that these measures are opposed by the health and social care staff professional bodies, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as all the health and social care trade unions; and is further concerned that according to Government data, the depleting efficacy of the vaccine over a 10-week period is just 40 to 50 per cent against the Omicron variant, and will therefore provide little protection against the transmission of covid-19 in comparison to daily testing and better graded PPE; and calls on the Government to immediately withdraw the regulations with immediate effect to avert this health and social care workforce and service crisis.