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Low staff take-up rate in London care homes behind push for forced jabs

Joe Murphy Political Editor

SHOCKINGLY low vaccination rates among care home staff in London are behind moves to make the jab mandatory for people working in the sector, it emerged today.

In five boroughs — Haringey, Westminster, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lambeth — under half of staff at care homes for the elderly have had both first and second jabs.

Nine out of 10 local authorities with the lowest jab rates among their staff are located in the capital, a Standard analysis found. In Haringey, just 38.5 per cent have had both doses and 75.2 per cent have had a first dose. In Westminster 39 per cent have had two doses and 74.8 per cent have had one dose.

Health officials say it is the low London rates that have caused most alarm, driving an expected announcement that care home workers will be required to have mandatory coronavirus vaccinations or face losing their jobs.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the Standard this year that doctors and care workers have a “professional responsibility” to protect their patients. Ministers will announce the move soon, following a consultation.

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2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://eveningstandard.pressreader.com/article/281560883745224

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