Norfolk County Council’s Adult Social Services are advising businesses in Norfolk to be aware that their employees carrying out works at any kind of care home will be required, from 11 November 2021, to prove that they are double-vaccinated. From this date, proof of vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine will be necessary for entry.
Councillor Bill Borrett, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: “The mandatory vaccine regulations will help to ensure that all care home residents, who may be vulnerable to COVID-19 are better protected against the virus.
“We also hope that the local businesses, who are valued providers of services to our care homes across the region, will be able to support us with this new requirement.”
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccine regulations apply to any person working in a CQC-regulated care home in England which provides nursing or personal care, subject to certain exemptions.
The list of persons includes:
- All workers employed directly by a care home (on a full or part-time basis)
- All workers employed by an agency and deployed by a care home
- Volunteers deployed in a care home.
- Anyone going into a care home to do other work, for example healthcare workers, tradespeople, CQC inspectors, hairdressers and beauticians.
There is still time for anyone who has not yet had their vaccination(s) to get them before the deadline, provided they get the first vaccine by 16 September. A list of vaccination centres with locations is available online at: https://norfolkandwaveneyccg.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-programme.
Norfolk walk-in clinics appropriate for current vaccine status and age can also be found at: https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/WalkIn/
Unfortunately, care homes will be unable to admit unvaccinated persons after 11 November 2021 unless the individual is exempt for the following reasons:
- Medically exempt
- Providing emergency assistance
- Carrying out urgent maintenance work
If individuals have been vaccinated by the NHS in England, they can demonstrate their vaccination status using the NHS COVID Pass service via one of the following methods:
- NHS App
- NHS website – www.NHS.uk
- NHS COVID Pass letter
An NHS appointment card cannot be used as proof of vaccination status.
Individuals vaccinated in Scotland can find information on how to obtain a record of their COVID19 vaccination status from www.nhsinform.scot
Individuals vaccinated in Wales can find information on how to obtain a record of their COVID-19 vaccination status from www.gov.wales
Norfolk County Council is aware that some people will have been vaccinated in Northern Ireland and in other countries outside Great Britain. The government is working on a solution for accepting evidence of this and will provide further guidance as soon as possible.