Students encouraged to have both COVID jabs this summer

Health Education England (HEE) is encouraging all health and care students and learners and those starting programmes in September, to ensure they have had both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine unless they are medically exempt.

Professor Mark Radford, Chief Nurse, Health Education England is leading HEE's drive to encourage student vaccinations which will protect them, their families and those patients they may be caring for and enable them to take part in their clinical learning placements. This follows government guidance advising that those working in social care must be fully vaccinated and a number of NHS trusts are now requiring this from all patient-facing health and care staff.

For those planning placements in social care settings, there is currently a 16 week grace period which is designed to allow time for those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so. The Covid-19 vaccine will then be mandatory for all care home workers in England, including students and learners on placements in those settings, from 11 November 2021.

Should any students or learners opt not to have the vaccination without medical reasons, they will need to talk to their university about the impact this will have on their progression through their programme.

For further support and guidance, including for those who are exempt and may require further information on how to continue with placements, please contact your university and placement coordinators.

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