Over a quarter of all coronavirus deaths have taken place in care homes, so it is of course good news that all care home residents have now been offered the first dose of the vaccine. However, we need to know exactly how many staff have been vaccinated, and how we plan to ensure those who haven’t been vaccinated will be encouraged to do so.
As well as this, we need a plan to allow families to reunite with their loved ones in care homes. It is entirely unacceptable that relatives are kept apart for so long – especially when we know that families are a key part in the health and care of care home residents.
Finally, we need a clear strategy for vaccinating the remaining 970,000 home care staff by February 15, including the 715,000 domiciliary staff who provide care in people’s own homes.
