People who enter or work in care homes are being urged to get fully vaccinated.

Cornwall Council is urging anyone who enters care homes in the course of their work to follow Government guidance on getting fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by November 11.

The new regulations, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care in June, will apply to all workers employed directly by the care home provider (on a full-time or part-time basis), those employed by an agency or external business and working in a care home, and volunteers in the care home.

This includes not just care workers, but all those providing services within the care home, such as visiting hairdressers or maintenance workers.

After 11 November, all CQC registered care homes (which provide accommodation together with nursing or personal care) will be required to ensure that a person does not enter the indoor premises for work purposes unless they have been vaccinated.

This is subject to certain exemptions.

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Any worker wishing to enter the care home will need to prove their vaccination status in one of three ways; via the NHS app, the NHS COVID pass via the NHS website, or an NHS letter.

For more information on obtaining a COVID pass, visit the Gov.uk website here

The full operational guidance was published 4 August 2021 and can be read online here.

Anyone who has yet to have their first dose of the vaccine will need to do so by Thursday, September 16 in order to ensure they have enough time to receive their second dose before the new guidance comes into effect.

Anyone who would like to book their vaccinations can find details of local ‘walk-in’ clinics on the NHS Kernow website, or book on the NHS website here, or by calling 119 between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.