Up to 135 care home staff in Bolton face losing their jobs in November as they have yet to be vaccinated.
England’s care workers must have had their first Covid-19 vaccine dose by Thursday, September 16 and be double-jabbed by November 11 to continue working in the care sector.
Unions have attacked the government policy and say that across England, thousands of vulnerable people could be put at risk by what they describe as the ‘no jab, no job’ care homes policy.
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Bolton Council have released data from the NHS capacity tracker, which is the national system for care homes reporting to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on the vaccination take up.
The data as of 10am September 16 was that of the 2,235 staff employed in Bolton care homes, 135, (6 per cent) of staff have not yet received their first dose vaccination.
However, health chiefs in Bolton believe the actual figure will be lower.
They say some homes may not have reported the most recent data and that staff on maternity leave or long-term sick who are unvaccinated or who have not been able to prove their status will be shown in these figures.
Bolton Council’s quality assurance team has spoken to all homes who reported staff unvaccinated, and the care homes advised that there will be approximately 70 (three per cent) staff who will refuse to be vaccinated and not be able to continue to work in care homes after November 11.
The council said that 10 of the 57 registered care homes in Bolton achieved 100 per cent of staff having received their first dose vaccination.
Coun Andy Morgan, executive cabinet member for adult services, said “The mandatory vaccination of front-line care staff will obviously result in the loss of valuable staff form the care home workforce and could undoubtedly pose some difficulties in the short term which is regrettable.
“However, homes affected are actively recruiting replacement staff and I would urge anyone thinking about making social care their profession to step forward and become part of what is an amazing team.”
The Unison union estimates that up to 70,000 care home workers in England may not be fully vaccinated by the deadline.
They believe mandatory vaccination should be scrapped or thousands of people may lose out on the support they need.
Unison said there are more than 112,000 vacancies in care and the government itself predicts the loss of 40,000 to 70,000 workers because of its ‘no jab, no job’ care homes policy.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Everyone that can have the vaccine, should have the vaccine.
“But the government has persisted with a heavy-handed approach despite warnings from care employers of the dire consequences.
“This move is damaging a sector already on its knees and undermining trust in the vaccine.
“If roles can’t be filled, the level and volume of care offered will be reduced.
“Vaccine-hesitant staff must be offered reassurance and persuasion, not threats and ultimatums.
“Instead of encouraging much-needed recruitment into care, the government is actively driving experienced staff away.”
