Page last updated: March 8 2022, 12:25
The NHS and Department of Health and Social Care are undertaking programmes to deliver vaccines against COVID-19.
A number of vaccines have been approved for use and more information can be found on the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency website
Health workers are one of the top priority groups and are being offered access to the vaccine and now boosters. Those health workers identified through risk assessments as being most vulnerable should be offered vaccination first.
Update 8 March 2022:
The government has announced that it intends to proceed with bringing forward regulations to revoke vaccination as a condition of deployment. The government received over 90,000 responses to its consultation with 90% of respondents supporting the withdrawal of the mandatory vaccine policy. You can read UNISON’s response here. The new regulations need to be in place by 13 March.
NHS advice on the VCOD regulations along with some FAQs can be read here:
Guidance has been sent to UNISON Health branches about the vaccination programme. To find out more information and have questions answered about the vaccination programme in your work place speak to your local UNISON branch.
We’ll provide here some key information about the vaccine programme and links to resources where you can find further information and check back regularly for any further updates.
Why is the vaccine important?
A safe, effective vaccine would offer protection to health and care workers who may be exposed to COVID-19 in the course of their work or daily lives.
It is important that the roll-out of this vaccination is undertaken collaboratively with the safety, wellbeing and trust of staff as the main priority.
Who can receive the vaccines?
Guidance from Public Health England indicates that all frontline healthcare staff who are eligible for seasonal influenza vaccination should be offered the vaccination against COVID-19.
Always discuss your eligibility for any vaccination with those offering it and check the most up to date guidance.
Who will deliver the vaccine?
Everyone delivering the vaccine should be subject to a standardised training and sign-off process. Information on the training and competency requirements to deliver the vaccine in England is available through the links below.
Staff recruited to work in the vaccine programme should be paid at the appropriate Agenda for Change pay rates.
Our priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination programme
Informed choice
UNISON continues to strongly advocate for health and care staff to be given priority access to the vaccination. As with the flu vaccination, no health or care worker should be forced to receive the COVID-19 immunisation.
Our priority is to ensure that employers continue to make the vaccine easily accessible to all staff who are eligible and that they provide them with the full information they need to make an informed decision.
We have secured commitments that there will be no negative implications for staff who refuse the vaccine. We are also working to confirm that immunisation will not influence decisions made about terms and conditions such as re-deployment, shielding, or pay progression.
We would encourage all our members to be cautious in relation to the information you share regarding vaccinations. Sharing your personal views can be acceptable but as NHS employees you have a responsibility not to share unverified information which potentially misinforms the public. Registrants have a particular responsibility on this within their professional codes.
Safety and protection
The roll-out of any vaccination against COVID-19 is subject to approval by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has given reassurances that the safety, quality and efficacy of any vaccine are thoroughly scientifically assessed before approval is given for use.
We are insisting that the same rigour is applied in the roll-out of the vaccine. Those administering it must be trained and certified as competent. Appropriate supervision and guidance must be available to them. Robust procedures for the supply and safe storage of the vaccination must be in place.
Ownership and partnership working
We have demanded that lessons are learned from the disastrous involvement of private companies in Test and Trace so that management of the vaccination programme is kept public.
We have been reassured the management of the vaccination of health and care workers will be handled entirely publicly.
Employers should be working closely with UNISON branches to ensure this programme is planned effectively and maintains the trust of staff.
For further information
- More in-depth information is being provided to UNISON Health branches. If you have questions or concerns about the plan in your area contact your local branch.
- Visit our COVID-19 health pages for more information
- Read our FAQs following the announcement about mandating the COVID-19 vaccine
- Continue checking our health pages regularly for further up to date information
- Visit the NHS’s vaccine information for trusted information on the vaccination programme in England.
- Vaccine information for Public Health Wales
- Vaccine information for Public Health Scotland
- Vaccine Public Health Northern Ireland follow
- Follow updates from the MHRA