Should it be mandatory for care home staff to have vaccine?

Max68

Registered User
Aug 21, 2018
178
0
Sussex
Some really interesting answers here, thanks for commenting. I read the other day that it seems a vaccine can lower that persons ability to transmit the virus at higher levels as well so I think that adds to the argument that those working with vulnerable, older or sick people should have the vaccine. I think the next question would be how you approach this with the care home? I assume we as families have the right to know, but what do you do if the home doesn't have it in place? Last thing you want to do is move a settled loved one to somewhere else with all the negatives attached to that.
 

Max68

Registered User
Aug 21, 2018
178
0
Sussex
Just thought I would update this as the government has now made it mandatory for care home staff to have the vaccination. This now opens up another can of worms in many ways as many people as we know do not want the vaccine therefore if there is a low uptake amongst carers the care sector could struggle to find enough carers. I spoke to mums care home manager today. We know of at least 9 carers who are leaving the home, although this is wage related. The home has not had as many applications as it normally would so a combination of the poor pay and many not taking up the vaccine could create a major crisis in employing enough people in care homes.
 

Lone Wolf

Registered User
Sep 20, 2020
195
0
No need to worry - BJ should have had plenty of recent practice at changing nappies. And MH might be looking for a new job.
 
Last edited:

Jessbow

Registered User
Mar 1, 2013
5,680
0
Midlands
I work at a vaccine centre, and its an interesting experience.

Unil recently , Vaccines were only availible, in the main, pre booked. As we have gone down through the Cohorts, the 'no show' for a BOOKED vaccine has increased.
1st stage of vaccination, turn out was 100% most days- The oldest , the most vunerable
Last Saturday, with just short of 600 vacinations booked for that day, just over 10% failed to show up.

We can only assume that the younger ones dont percieve the risk as much as the older ones.
The number that appear to not want/ now show up for the jab disappoints me
 

jennifer1967

Registered User
Mar 15, 2020
23,142
0
Southampton
we are having walkin centres now that you dont need to book and seems to be popular as you can just go at your own convenience which knowing the shift patterns that some of the care staff work in should help them to get jabs.
 

Exning

Registered User
Aug 26, 2018
57
0
Just thought I would update this as the government has now made it mandatory for care home staff to have the vaccination. This now opens up another can of worms in many ways as many people as we know do not want the vaccine therefore if there is a low uptake amongst carers the care sector could struggle to find enough carers. I spoke to mums care home manager today. We know of at least 9 carers who are leaving the home, although this is wage related. The home has not had as many applications as it normally would so a combination of the poor pay and many not taking up the vaccine could create a major crisis in employing enough people in care homes.
Don't worry. The deadline for getting staff vaccinated is October. By that time with the exponential rise in cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated all care homes will be in lock down.
Until we properly assess risk then this whole situation will be more and more restrictive for care homes. By having 2 jabs the risk of symptomatic illness is reduced by almost 90% and the risk of needing hospitalisation for the few that do get I'll by over 40%.
If we are concerned about the inherent vulnerability/frailty of elderly residents then we shouldn't be questioning the need for staff needing to be vaccinated. If you want to work in a food outlet you have to follow accepted good practice. To work with the vulnerable the good practice is vaccination. Staff can have free choice but I don't want then in a care home setting. That is their choice.
 

Wildflowerlady

Registered User
Sep 30, 2019
1,103
0
I caught Covid from my late father in January/February this year whilst he was in a care home. Sadly my dad passed away I missed his funeral as so ill myself. Dads death was recorded as advanced dementia/stroke covid was not mentioned on his certificate. I know that some staff at the care home had contracted Covid too. I think unless a medical condition means the vaccination is unsuitable that people working with the vulnerable should definitely be vaccinated. I was admitted to hospital and 5 months later am still suffering effects in my lungs. I am however still glad/grateful I got to see my dad but if vaccination had been available then maybe I wouldn't have got so ill. My oxygen levels are still not right and I'm still under treatment with blood thinners and hospital clinic until at least October when I hope I can be officially discharged from respiratory clinic. This is an awful virus that I hope I never get again. I have had both AZ jabs now with no bad reaction. I know it doesn't 100% protect me but I'm grateful to have had them.
 

jaymor

Registered User
Jul 14, 2006
15,604
0
South Staffordshire
I really think that staff should be vaccinated if they work in a care home or a hospital.

Non of the residents in the care homes who caught Covid went out to do the weekly shop, pick up children from school, nor were they out socialising. The caught Covid, died from Covid, because it was brought into the home by staff and visitors. They need to have as much protection as possible and that means staff vaccinated and visitors checked.

All jobs have stipulations as to what qualifications you need and if you don’t have the qualification you can’t have the job. Being vaccinated is no different.
 

Ruth1974

Registered User
Dec 26, 2018
128
0
Care home staff work long hours for poor pay. There is a national shortage of them. They are often under trained and under valued. Now we are talking about forcing vaccines on them (but not forcing vaccines on hospital staff).
Let's try supporting them better rather than further undermining them.
 

Starting on a journey

Registered User
Jul 9, 2019
1,167
0
@Wildflowerlady sorry to hear you are still not well. You went through so much with your sisters behaviour before your fathers death. I am hoping that you will start to feel better soon . You deserve to have some good fortune after you have done so much for your father
 

Wildflowerlady

Registered User
Sep 30, 2019
1,103
0
@Wildflowerlady sorry to hear you are still not well. You went through so much with your sisters behaviour before your fathers death. I am hoping that you will start to feel better soon . You deserve to have some good fortune after you have done so much for your father
[/QUOTE
Thank you @Starting on a journey. I thought I was recovering well from Covid but at my recent hospital visit I failed a walk test as my oxygen levels dropped too much. I was told I needed another CT scan as the clot is likely not dispersed in my lung. I had the CT scan yesterday but won't get results for couple of weeks. I'm told as a extra precaution will need to go Hinchingbrook for heart scan. It's a bit worrying but thankfully I feel I can cope with stuff at home and what needs doing. Partners parkinson's has progressed a bit and I'm worried he's lost a lot of weight not that he was big a few months ago. I'm still a bit sad sister and I no longer speak but in lots of ways glad as my relationship with her was very painful. I like to pop into forum when I can and still think of how wonderful and kind everyone was to me. Take care ?
 
Last edited:

jaymor

Registered User
Jul 14, 2006
15,604
0
South Staffordshire
Care home staff work long hours for poor pay. There is a national shortage of them. They are often under trained and under valued. Now we are talking about forcing vaccines on them (but not forcing vaccines on hospital staff).
Let's try supporting them better rather than further undermining them.
My daughter works in the community as a care giver to dementia clients and my granddaughter runs a dementia unit within a large nursing home. Both are overworked and both very underpaid for the time and dedication they give to those who need them. They both along with all the other carers need to be protected as much as possible. They have had times when they have been overworked because of colleagues isolating having had contact or having Covid and times when their hours have been cut because clients have been hospitalised or died because of Covid. I can see it from both sides, my husband having spent 4 years in a nursing home and two family members working in care. Covid is not going away without a fight any day soon, what else other than a vaccine have we got to fight it with and keep our loved ones as safe as we can?