The RCN actively encourages its members to take up the COVID-19 vaccine. The NMC Code requires nurses to take measures to protect their patients and the public as well as to protect themselves against serious illness as a professional responsibility.
Alongside PPE and social distancing, vaccination is a measure to reduce the risk. Employers should take all reasonable steps to support the vaccination of at risk staff. The RCN believes that this includes employers allowing these staff reasonable paid time away from work to attend vaccination appointments.
Under regulation 7 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, employers are required to assess the risk to staff of occupational exposure to hazardous substances (including biological agents and pathogens) and take measures to control and reduce the risk of exposure. Under regulation 3 of the COSHH Regulations employers have a duty to risk assess and put in place control measures to extend to those who may be affected by the work carried out by the employer, this includes taking all reasonable steps to ensure agency and bank staff are protected, vaccinated and provided with PPE.
The RCN recommends taking up vaccination as best practice. However, we recognise that some members might choose not to be vaccinated. If you have medical concerns about the vaccine, please see our section on refusal below.
Members who are concerned about their own clinical situation/circumstances should discuss this with their employer and/or GP.
How do I get the vaccine? Can agency workers, students and those working in the independent sector get the vaccine?
In England, frontline staff who have not had the COVID-19 vaccine can call 119 or book online.
The Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination is published by the JCVI. It includes all:
- frontline health and social care workers who provide care to vulnerable people wherever they are employed
including those who are:
- employed independently to provide care to vulnerable people
- working in hospice care
- working temporarily in the COVID-19 vaccination programme who provide face-to-face clinical care.
The Green Book chapter for COVID-19 vaccination provides more detail and recommends that temporary staff such as bank or agency workers, including those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients in the NHS or in an independent or voluntary setting, must also be included.
The vaccine programme for health and care staff is being rolled out through organisations those staff at high risk of acquiring infection, at high individual risk of developing serious disease, or at risk of transmitting infection to multiple vulnerable persons or other staff in a health care environment, are considered of higher priority for vaccination than those at lower risk. This prioritisation should be taken into account during vaccine deployment.
Can internationally recruited nurses get the vaccine?
Yes, internationally recruited nurses working in the NHS will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine and will not need a GP/NHS number.
What should I do if I have not been included in the list to be vaccinated?
In England, frontline staff who have not had the COVID-19 vaccine can call 119 or book online.
The Green book chapter for COVID-19 vaccination says that staff working in care homes for older adults should be included in the first Priority Group for receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. This includes temporary and agency workers as well as permanent employees working in these settings. All other frontline health and social care workers should then be included in Priority Group 2 to receive the vaccine. This group should include; students, temporary staff such as agency or bank workers regardless of who they are employed by and it includes those working in independent or voluntary healthcare providers.
The order that the NHS will vaccinate everyone in each Priority Group may vary, so you may need to wait for details of when and where you will receive your vaccination. NHS Trusts have compiled details of how many of their workers are eligible to receive the vaccination, as have many independent workplaces such as care homes, hospices and independent hospitals and clinics. We expect that most members will have their vaccination arranged through their workplace or employer in this way, but it is possible that some members may be given a letter by their employer or agency to take to a GP.
If you believe that you have not been included in the list of workers to be vaccinated as part of Priority Group 1 or 2 then you should raise this issue with your employer/agency in the first instance. If this does not resolve the issue you should contact RCN Direct on 0345 7726100.
Do I need to have the flu vaccine before I have the COVID-19 vaccine?
The guidance in the Green Book chapter for COVID-19 vaccination recommends there is a seven day gap between administration for the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine. The RCN would recommend staff have both these vaccines as soon as they are able to help protect them, their families and patients.
I am hesitant about being vaccinated and I am worried about what will happen at my work if I refuse it. What should I do?
Make sure you find out about the vaccine, talk to colleagues and read the information in the Green Book and other vaccine information.
You should also find out what your employer expects from you in relation to the vaccine. Check whether your employment contract has any terms about vaccination and check the local policy.
You should speak to your manager and/or your HR department to find out if there are other arrangements (like redeployment) that can be utilised if your employer only wants vaccinated staff to work in your area. Ask whether testing and PPE will mitigate the risk sufficiently for you to continue to work in your usual area. See our section below for more information on refusal.