New starter deployment in care homes

As of today (Thursday 6 January 2022), an unvaccinated new starter can be deployed in a care home 21 days after receiving one dose of an authorised COVID-19 vaccine as long as that dose was received less than 10 weeks ago. Clinical trial participants can evidence their participation in order to be exempt from the requirement. These changes reflect the new regulations coming into force which will affect the wider social care sector (registered domiciliary care services) and the NHS from early April.

Further details on timescales and actions needed by care providers in ensuring all staff comply with vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) will be shared when they are published.