Supporting People With Learning Disabilities
Employees Intranet
MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION
Since January 2021, care homes have tested over 21 million times and used 1.2 billion items of PPE. Yet, despite this protection and the best efforts of committed staff, as of July 2021 -nearly 14,000 care home residents have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of the year.
The implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination has been the shining light at the end of the tunnel; data from Public Health England suggests that, as of the 15th of July 2021, the vaccination programme has prevented between 35,200 and 38,600 deaths.For this reason, the government have passed legislation that is coming into force on the 11th of November 2021. This means that after this date, all care staff (and all staff that enter the care homes as part of their role) will need to be fully vaccinated, unless they can evidence exemption.
Book your vaccination
Deadline
For those that are able to be vaccinated, this means that you’ll need to have received your first vaccination by the 16th of September 2021 to be on track to meet the deadline (as this allows for the necessary 8-week gap between two vaccinations). We will need evidence of this (or evidence of your exemption) before the 11th of November.
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first vaccine deadline
second vaccine deadline
Providing correct evidence
How do I prove I've had the vaccine?
If you have had the vaccine, you can demonstrate this using the NHS COVID Pass service via the following routes:
1. The NHS App (please select TRAVEL)
2. The NHS COVID Pass letter (request online or via 119)
Your COVID-PASS will need to show the dates you received your vaccination; for this reason, please do NOT use the domestic option (as this only shows a 'tick', which is also granted for anyone who has a recently had a negative LFD test). Please instead use the TRAVEL option. Please be aware that an appointment card cannot be used as proof of vaccination status.
IF YOU'RE USING THE APP
IF YOU REQUEST EVIDENCE VIA 119, YOUR LETTER SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS
IF YOU DOWNLOAD EVIDENCE FROM THE APP, IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS
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Other information
[taken from www.nhs.uk]
Types of COVID-19 vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the UK are:
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Moderna vaccine
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Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine
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Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
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Janssen vaccine (available later this year
Which vaccine will I get?
You cannot usually choose which vaccine you have. When you book, you'll only be offered appointments for vaccines that are suitable for you.
Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines, but some people are only offered certain vaccines.
For example, if you're pregnant or under 40 you'll usually only be offered appointments for the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
You should have the same vaccine for both doses, unless you had serious side effects (such as a serious allergic reaction) after your 1st dose.
How well do the COVID-19 vaccines work?
Anyone who gets COVID-19 can become seriously ill or have long-term effects (long COVID). The COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others.
Research has shown the vaccines help:
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reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
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reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19
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protect against COVID-19 variants
The 1st dose should give you some protection from 3 or 4 weeks after you've had it. But you need 2 doses for stronger and longer-lasting protection.
There is a chance you might still get or spread COVID-19 even if you have a vaccine, so it's important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.
Information:
Watch an NHS YouTube video explaining what's in the COVID-19 vaccines and how they work
Side effects and safety
The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
They can cause some side effects, but not everyone gets them.
Any side effects are usually mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:
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a sore arm from the injection
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feeling tired
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a headache
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feeling achy
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feeling or being sick
More serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or blood clotting, are very rare.
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines side effects and safety
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
You can get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you're aged 18 or over and:
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you're pregnant or think you might be
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you're breastfeeding
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you're trying for a baby or might get pregnant in the future
The vaccines you'll be offered depends if you're pregnant and how old you are. The vaccines cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.
Find out more about pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility and COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccine ingredients
The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain egg or animal products.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine contains a tiny amount of alcohol, but this is less than in some everyday foods like bread.
The vaccines are suitable for people of all faiths.
You can find out about the ingredients in the vaccines currently available in the UK:
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