People working in care homes in England required to have full coronavirus vaccination

Implementation date: 11 November 2021

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 provide that only people who can demonstrate evidence of having had a complete course of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (or evidence that they are exempt from vaccination) are allowed to work in a CQC-registered care home in England.

The requirement to be vaccinated applies to individuals who enter the indoor premises of a care home, including the care home staff and any professionals visiting the home, such as healthcare workers, tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians, and CQC inspectors.

The requirement excludes residents; friends or relatives of residents who are visiting; persons providing emergency assistance or urgent maintenance work in the care home; and those under the age of 18.

The Regulations were made on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021. This means that there is a 16-week grace period from the Regulations being made until the requirement to be vaccinated comes into effect.

Details of the requirement are set out in the Government's response to its consultation on Making vaccination a condition of deployment in care homes.