Manx Care, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Council of Ministers will discuss the possibility of compulsory Covid-19 vaccines for frontline healthcare workers.
It’s after the UK government this week made it compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told MPs this week that compulsory vaccination would ’protect patients in the NHS, protect colleagues in the NHS and, of course, protect the NHS itself’. A deadline is expected to be set for the beginning of April to give 103,000 unvaccinated workers time to get both jabs.
The Manx Independent asked the Isle of Man Government if the island would follow suit.
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Manx Care and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued a joint statement.
They said: ’The DHSC and Manx Care are aware of recent developments in the UK regarding compulsory Covid vaccination for frontline NHS workers.
’The situation, and related developments overseas, continues to be monitored.
’At this time, no decision has been taken in the Isle of Man on making vaccinations mandatory for health and care workers.
’The matter will be discussed in detail by DHSC, Manx Care and the Council of Ministers before any decision is made.’
According to the latest figures available on the government website, there are 79, 219 people on the island currently eligible for vaccination.
Of that eligible population, 86.02% have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Both doses have been administered to 89% of the eligible population, and 25.73% have had a booster dose.
In the UK, Mr Javid said that more than 93% of NHS frontline staff have had their first dose and 90% are fully vaccinated.
That is higher than the general working-age population there, where about 81% have had both doses.
The United Kingdom government’s decision came after a consultation was launched into whether both the Covid and flu jabs should be compulsory.
However, Mr Javid said the flu vaccine would not be made mandatory.
Scotland and Wales have not made any proposals to make Covid jabs compulsory for NHS workers or care home staff, while in Northern Ireland there is to be a public consultation.