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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Peter Walker Political correspondent

No 10 set for U-turn over mandatory Covid jabs for NHS staff in England

Health workers protesting last week against compulsory vaccines for NHS and care staff.
Health workers protesting last week against compulsory vaccines for NHS and care staff. Photograph: Belinda Jlao/Sopa/Rex/Shutterstock

Downing Street appears likely to drop its policy of dismissing frontline NHS and care staff in England who refuse Covid vaccinations, a minister has strongly indicated, after nursing and care organisations called for this to happen.

A decision would be made “in the course of the next few days”, according to Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury. He said the lower severity of the Omicron variant of Covid did “open a space” for the policy to be reversed.

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