A CARE home manager in Falmouth has reacted with shock after it was revealed that the government is expected to announce that all care home staff will have to be vaccinated.

The Government is expected to announce that care home workers will be required to have mandatory coronavirus vaccinations in the next few days.

Lisa Browne, manager of the Roscarrack House care home in Bickland Water Road, said the news had come completely out of the blue.

"I'm in complete shock, " she said. "I understand why they want to do it to keep our elderly residents safe, but surely our staff have the right to make their own decisions. As long as they wear PPE and everything in here. That impacts our residents as well because we have residents who have chosen not to have the vaccine."

She said some of her staff had decided not have the vaccine for health reasons.

"I know they have predominantly made the decision for a health reasons," she said. "So does that mean they are going to have to risk their health? That's very concerning for me. But also they are then going to say to me: 'What about the residents who have chosen not to have the vaccine?' Why should they be made to have it? It's going to be a whole world of pain now."

Anne Thomas, CEO of Cornwall Care which runs the Trevern Care Home in Melvill Road, Falmouth, said in a statement to the Packet that it was asking staff declining vaccinations on non-medical grounds to reconsider.

“We are working with colleagues across our organisation to make them aware that Covid vaccinations are likely to become compulsory for all staff in our care homes," she said. "The relatively small number of people choosing to decline a vaccination on non-medical grounds are being asked to re-consider and we are working with them to understand what their concerns are and how we can support them in re-thinking their decision.

“Infection control is our number one priority and we’ll do everything necessary to protect our residents and keep them as safe as possible.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is known to be in favour of the move, while England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said doctors and care workers have a “professional responsibility” to protect their patients.

Ministers are expected to announce the move in the coming days, according to the PA news agency, after a consultation was carried out into using staff vaccination in England to protect the most vulnerable from Covid-19.

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Some care home staff have already signalled their intention to leave their jobs if they are required to have coronavirus jabs, an industry operator has said.

Care leaders are meeting with Government officials over the issue of mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for care home staff, amid concerns it could put people off working in the sector.

Representative bodies have voiced fears that making having the vaccine a requirement will deter those who might have thought of joining the workforce, and see others already in jobs leave as a result.

The Packet has contacted other care homes in Falmouth and Penryn area for a comment