Liberty responds to reports of mandatory vaccines for care workers

Liberty has responded to news that the Government is considering making COVID vaccinations mandatory for care home workers, with the possibility also of rolling the policy out to all NHS staff.

Gracie Bradley, Liberty director, said:

“We all want to know that our loved ones are safe – and it is vital people in care homes and those at risk from COVID are protected.

“Ministers shouldn’t be talking about forcing people to get jabs, they should be focusing on educating people about vaccinations and supporting people to make informed consent.

“If vaccinations are made mandatory for care workers, and possibly NHS staff, people may be forced choose between their livelihood and their bodily autonomy. That is unacceptable.

“What’s more these proposals are likely to be counterproductive from a public health perspective, and will damage relationships of trust between employers, patients and key workers.

“The Government must continue to ensure wide access to vaccinations as well as education to support informed consent – but no one should be punished for choosing to stay away.”