DAUK has warned that the decision not to offer a Covid vaccination to doctors and frontline health workers will ‘backfire’ with staff sickness and absences.
Dr Alison George, of the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) GP team, criticised the decision not to ‘protect staff health’.
She was responding to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance that the age at which people are offered an NHS Covid vaccine should rise from 75 to 80 in autumn 2027.
Reducing vaccination
Dr George said: “Reducing vaccination to such a small group gives the impression to the public that we do not need to worry about Covid any more and that it can only harm the very oldest and most vulnerable in society.
“This is not the case at all and will do nothing to encourage members of the public to protect themselves and those around them from a disease that is spread easily.
“From an NHS staff member perspective it just confirms that DHSC and NHSE leaders have zero interest in protecting staff health.”
Dr Steve Taylor, DAUK GP co-lead, spoke to the BMJ about the guidance.
Vulnerable and marginalised
He said: “This issue with a raised age group again gives the wrong impression of the failure of the NHS to care for the vulnerable and marginalised.
“It also means some NHS staff will feel that their health doesn’t matter. This feels like cost cutting rather than genuine choice over health benefits and certainly affects staff at risk.
“As DAUK has said previously, it will backfire, with staff sickness and absences. This should be a choice for staff and older patients.”
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