COVID-19 vaccination
Contents
- Vaccination as a condition of deployment
- Care staff and people using services
- COVID-19 vaccination programme - general
- Special groups, including vaccine hesitancy
- Communication and learning resources
Information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for social care staff and people using care services. See related information on Testing and care.
Information from the DHSC, PHE and NHS is updated regularly.
Vaccination as a condition of deployment§
From 11 November 2021, the UK Government made vaccination a condition of deployment in residential care settings. It planned to introduce this condition for all other health and care settings in April 2022.
However, following a public consultation, where 90% of responses supported the removal of the legal requirement for health and social care staff to be double jabbed, the government revoked the regulations.
From 15 March 2022, vaccination is no longer a condition of deployment in a residential care setting and it is not being rolled out to other health and care settings.
While the vast majority of NHS, social care and other healthcare staff have been double jabbed, the government is clear those working in health and social care who remain unvaccinated still have a professional responsibility to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and get boosters.
Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment ended – 15 March 2022 - DHSC
Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment in health and social care were revoked on Tuesday 15 March 2022.
Links to historic documents on earlier vaccination as condition of deployment:
- Vaccination as a condition of deployment guidance – archived 15 March 2022 - DHSC
- VCOD: self-certification of exemption extended to March 2022 – 8 December 2021 – DHSC
- Vaccination as condition of deployment: Q&A – Last updated November 2021 - Archived – CPA
- Data protection and checking vaccination records in care homes – 12 November 2021 – Digital Social Care
- VOCD and HR issues: CPA webinar recording – 16 September 2021 – CPA
- Vaccination as condition of deployment: webinar presentation – 26 August 2021 – CPA
Care staff and people using services§
Covid and flu vaccinations for social care – 30 August 2023 – DHSC
Vaccination teams will now begin contacting providers to arrange visits from 11 September 2023 and have been asked to ensure that all residents in care homes are vaccinated by 22 October. Care home staff should now commence the consenting process for residents, if not already done so.
Staff are encouraged to book their vaccinations as early as possible via Local Booking Services from 11 September, and the National Booking Service (NBS), from 18 September. Appointments can also be booked online on the NHS App, or by phoning 119.
The DHSC has a range of materials which you can use to help promote vaccinations for staff including Q&A leaflets, posters, and stickers.
Find out more:
Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment ended – 15 March 2022 - DHSC
Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment in health and social care were revoked on Tuesday 15 March 2022.
COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources – 3 March 2022 – UKHSA
People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 12 years and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a spring booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Appointments will be available from the National Booking Service shortly.
Book or manage a COVID vaccine boosters – NHS
NHS booking service for booster dose of covid vaccination if eligible.
COVID-19 vaccination programme - general§
COVID-19 vaccination programme –PHE
All PHE and DHSC documents relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination statistics, plans and documentation - DHSC
This page brings together COVID-19 vaccination programme-related documents published by DHSC, and vaccination statistics published by other bodies.
This standard operating procedure describes the operating model and design requirements for safe delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the community.
COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - PHE
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination information for public health professionals.
COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination– Public Health England
Information and promotional resources for people who have had their first COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting - DHSC
Information on the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Special groups, including vaccine hesitancy§
Health conditions and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS
Charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and certain health conditions.
COVID-19 vaccine and severe mental illness –– Equally Well UK
A guide for people with severe mental illness and their carers on what to expect from the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Vaccine – Mencap
A range of resources for people with learning disabilities and their families, including easy-read guides.
Information for women of childbearing age to read before vaccination.
Health conditions and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS
Charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and certain health conditions.
COVID-19 vaccine and severe mental illness –– Equally Well UK
A guide for people with severe mental illness and their carers on what to expect from the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Vaccine – Mencap
A range of resources for people with learning disabilities and their families, including easy-read guides.
Information for women of childbearing age to read before vaccination.
Communication and learning resources§
COVID-19 vaccine communications toolkit - DHSC
The DHSC Covid-19 communications toolkit includes a suite of creative content assets for organisations to use about the covid vaccine. The toolkit includes a series of videos on issues such as:
- Vaccine safety, risks and ingredients
- The regulator’s critical role
- Vaccine safety and testing
- How the vaccine works.
- Encouraging uptake of vaccine for BAME communities
- Encouraging uptake of vaccine for the social care workforce
It also includes copy to support sharing the videos on social posts or websites; Vaccine facts cards for social media with social copy - covering key information on the vaccines.
DHSC will be updating and adding to this toolkit regularly and also signposts people to PHE's campaign resource centre where more helpful vaccine related resources will be available as and when they are ready.
Information about COVID-19 vaccines in a range of languages –DHSC
Many of the resources on COVID have been translated into a range of languages (plus some in English large print and BSL):
What to expect after covid 19 vaccination
COVID-19 Vaccination e-learning HEE
The e-learning programme is designed to provide the health and care workforce involved in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme with the knowledge they need to deliver the vaccine programme effectively.