Covid-19: Requirements for Employees to be Vaccinated — [Ian Paisley in the Chair]

Mr Bradley expressed support for vaccination but opposed mandatory vaccine policies for businesses and public services. He highlighted the staffing pressures in social care, noting a waiting list increase from zero to 400 within months. Concerned about staff losses and the impact on NHS backlogs, he urged reconsideration of the deadline for NHS and care staff vaccines. Ben Bradley highlighted potential losses of 500 care home staff in November and up to 3,000 staff in the wider home care sector by April, expressing concern about the impact on service delivery.

The biggest issue facing the NHS is the backlog of operations and appointments. Sacking 100,000 NHS workers will only exacerbate this problem. Esther McVey suggested that the mandation policy is a get-out clause, urging the Minister to take back the powerful points heard and reverse the policy.

He praised the vaccine rollout and thanked the Government, but expressed concern over mandatory vaccination policies. He highlighted that more than 200,000 people have signed a petition against mandatory vaccinations, though he believes this is just a fraction of total support for personal choice. Shannon argued that coercion should not be used to enforce vaccination, emphasizing the importance of voluntary consent in medical ethics. In his contribution, Jim Shannon mentioned the clapping for NHS workers last year and expressed hurt over the current situation where they are no longer needed unless they comply with vaccination mandates.

The debate is timely as restrictions are being lifted, and employees will return to work. The MP expressed concerns about the NHS workforce facing a staffing crisis exacerbated by vaccine mandates, highlighting that many NHS staff feel anxious about their position due to these policies.

Ms Greenwood expressed concern about the Government's intention to make covid-19 vaccination a requirement for all health and care workers in England from April 2022. She stated that forcing the vaccine on people is coercive, will do nothing to build trust, and undermines employment rights and human rights. With more than 218,000 signatures supporting the petition against mandatory vaccination, she highlighted that over 90,000 full-time equivalent vacancies already exist in England's NHS and cited warnings from healthcare organisations such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the NHS Confederation about potential consequences for staffing levels. She also raised concerns about medical exemptions not being appealable.

Acknowledges the work of the Birkenhead vaccination team and urges unvaccinated constituents to get their first jab. Opposes employer vaccine mandates, citing concerns over unemployment for NHS staff during a cost-of-living crisis and potential staffing shortages. Points out that black, Asian and minority ethnic workers are likely to be disproportionately affected by such mandates. Highlights the impact of similar policies in care homes leading to workforce reductions and warns against punitive measures motivated by profit rather than safety.

Ms Barker expressed concern over the mandatory vaccination for NHS staff, arguing that it could cause a workforce crisis and is morally reprehensible. She cited the lack of thorough impact assessment and the potential loss of up to 126,000 staff members. Additionally, she criticised the Government's actions during the pandemic. Paula Barker questioned whether sacking up to 126,000 NHS staff would have a severely detrimental effect on the economy, despite the Minister's economic argument.

The requirement to have a hepatitis vaccination is only in the public health green book and not mandatory in statute. Ms Maskell expressed concern over the potential loss of NHS and social care staff due to mandatory vaccination regulations, stating that the NHS is already understaffed with a shortage of around 100,000 workers. She cited Government figures indicating another 88,000 could be sacked if they do not get vaccinated by February 3rd. Ms Maskell emphasised that the exodus of staff would exacerbate the current NHS and social care crisis, adding strain on remaining staff who are already suffering from mental health issues due to the pandemic. Rachael Maskell cited statistics indicating that after 10 weeks, the efficacy of the vaccine against omicron is depleted to between 40% and 50%, questioning how the Minister can claim it is the best way out.

Mr Steven Bonnar raised concerns about the impact of mandatory vaccination policies on employment rates and employee rights. He cited examples from companies such as Morrisons and Next that have reduced sick pay for unvaccinated employees, emphasizing that a pandemic should not be used to diminish employment security. Additionally, he highlighted potential consequences in healthcare sectors if up to 10% of staff might lose their jobs due to mandatory vaccination policies by April. Bonnar advocated for an educational approach rather than coercion and called upon the UK Government to reconsider their stance on mandated vaccinations.

Mr Farron argued against compulsory vaccination, stating that it is illiberal, wrong, and an attack on freedom. He called for more education to change hearts and minds rather than compulsion. He warned of the potential loss of up to 800 NHS jobs in his local area if compulsion goes ahead and highlighted the immense pressure on cancer services due to missed screenings and diagnoses during the pandemic.