Doctors belonging to the British Medical Association (BMA) have expressed “grave concern” about the prospect of staff losing their jobs should the Covid vaccine become a mandatory requirement for NHS workers.
Any reduction of doctors, nurses and other staff staff due to vaccination requirements would be a “devastating” blow, leading practitioners said after health secretary Sajid Javid signalled on Monday he is “leaning towards” making the jabs compulsory for staff in England.
“[It] would have a big impact on a health service that’s already under immense pressure,” Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said in a statement. He added the number of NHS workers vaccinated “is high”, using “the latest data” to insist the number of staff who have had both jabs is in excess of “90 per cent in several hospital trusts in England”.
It comes as the company behind the Novavax Covid vaccine announced it had submitted its final findings to the UK’s medicines regulator, MHRA, for approval. Bosses said they anticipate a “positive decision” after more than 15,000 people took part in the phase 3 trial at various hospitals across Britain.
Earlier, Keir Starmer tested positive for Covid-19 – hours before he was due to face Boris Johnson at prime minister’s questions and respond to chancellor Rishi Sunak’s latest Budget. He is said to be doing fine.
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