Website of The Care Home Environment Magazine

NCF: vaccine booking restriction ‘unfathomable’

The closure of the Covid vaccine National Booking System to frontline social care staff from 1 April has denied tens of thousands of workers to receive a jab, according to the National Care Forum (NCF).

The NCF called on the government to reverse the decision to force social care workers to seek vaccinations through an alternative route to the direct access National Booking Service, which is accessed by thousands of care staff every day.

NCF chief executive Vic Rayner (pictured) called the decision “unfathomable”, saying the “only logical conclusion” is “the government has arbitrarily restricted access” of care staff to Covid vaccines.

“Tens of thousands of care workers who could have identified opportunities to receive the vaccination…will be denied,” she added.

“Staff will be left bewildered by their inability to self-book, and employers will be left in despair that once again they are left holding all the cards in a vaccination agenda that for care organisations and their amazing staff increasingly feels less about joint endeavour and more about blame.”

Rayner continued: “Far from addressing any problems in the take up of vaccination amongst care staff, the government has instead created them. Our research has repeatedly shown that access to the vaccine is one of the main barriers for staff take up”.

It is understood the decision to restrict access to the National Booking System, which was made ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend, was made due to vaccine supply issues.

Upcoming Events

Care Roadshows - Glasgow

Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow
16th April 2024

Care Show London

ExCel, London
24 April 2024 - 25 April 2024

Future of Care Leaders Conference

The King’s Fund, London
Tuesday 30th April 2024

Care Roadshows - Liverpool

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool
14th May 2024

Care Roadshows - Birmingham

Villa Park Stadium, Birmingham
16th May 2024

Care Home Awards

Royal Garden Hotel, London, W8 4PT
17th May 2024

Upcoming Events

Care Roadshows - Glasgow

Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow
16th April 2024

Care Show London

ExCel, London
24 April 2024 - 25 April 2024

Future of Care Leaders Conference

The King’s Fund, London
Tuesday 30th April 2024

Care Roadshows - Liverpool

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool
14th May 2024

Care Roadshows - Birmingham

Villa Park Stadium, Birmingham
16th May 2024

Care Home Awards

Royal Garden Hotel, London, W8 4PT
17th May 2024

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025