
Update: Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment for Healthcare Workers
By DTA | 17th January 2022 | News
The Office of the Chief Dental Officer England has issued an update regarding vaccination as a condition of deployment.
On 6 January 2022, the Government made new legislation, approved by Parliament, which amended the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 ("the 2014 Regulations"). This extends the scope of mandatory vaccination requirements for staff beyond registered care homes to health and wider social care settings in England.
The regulations provide that the registered person can only deploy or otherwise engage a person for the purposes of the provision of a CQC-regulated activity, in which they have direct, face to face contact with patients and service users, if the person provides evidence that they have been vaccinated with a complete course of a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved COVID-19 vaccine. This is subject to specific exemptions and conditions.
The vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) requirements include front-line workers, as well as non-clinical workers not directly involved in patient care but who may have face to face contact with patients, including ancillary staff such as porters, cleaners or receptionists.
The VCOD regulations allow a grace period for compliance and the requirement will come into force on 1 April 2022.
Please see further detailed information in the documents below:
Update - VCOD for all healthcare workers - Letter and guidance to support providers in the vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) for healthcare workers - phase 2 implementation.
Letter re VCOD for Healthcare Workers - Phase 2 - Individuals undertaking CQC-regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1 April 2022. Letter from Amanda Pritchard, Prerana Issar, Prof Stephen Powis, Ruth May and Dr Nikita Kanani.
VCOD Phase 1 - Planning and Preparation - Guidance to help providers prepare for the introduction of regulations.
VCOD FAQs - Frequently asked questions around the vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) for healthcare workers - phase 1 and 2.
These documents can also be found here.
Further update from Jason Wong Deputy Chief Dental Officer England