Care home staff will have to have a coronavirus vaccination "to protect residents" and making jabs compulsory for people in the NHS is also being considered.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the move for care homes in England despite the strong concerns expressed by sector leaders around the impact it could have on already-stretched staffing levels.
He told Parliament that "after careful consultation we've decided to take this proposal forward to protect residents".
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He said a consultation will be had on the same approach in the NHS "to save lives and protect patients from disease".
Speaking in the Commons, he said: "The vast majority of staff in care homes are already vaccinated but not all, and we know that the vaccine not only protects you but protects those around you.
"Therefore we will be taking forward the measures to ensure the mandating as a condition of deployment for staff in care homes and we will consult on the same approach in the NHS in order to save lives and protect patients from disease."
Mr Hancock's comments came after providers and representatives from the care sector attended a virtual meeting with officials from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The GMB union has claimed more than a third of carers would consider leaving their jobs due to compulsory vaccinations.
Dr Susan Hopkins, strategic response director for Covid-19 at Public Health England, said there are "pros and cons to any debate on mandatory vaccination ", with one possible downside being that "people may vote with their feet, and not want to have the vaccine, and therefore not work in a care home, and that could lead to staff supply issues in care homes".
Before the official announcement, she told the Science and Technology Committee: "I will remain a little bit concerned that we will have shortages of care staff once the mandate has come in, but I'm sure that the vast majority of care workers do want to do the right thing and get vaccinated to protect the elderly under their care."
Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group (ICG) which represents care homes in Yorkshire, said recruitment was "always challenging" before the pandemic and "is becoming more critical now".
He told the PA news agency the move could deter people from taking on a care home job, and see those already in work leave because of the decision, adding: "I think people will be put off".
