Staff COVID-19 vaccinations: frequently asked questions
I have heard that the Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment (VCOD) requirements are being revoked. Is this true?
The VCOD regulations have been revoked for health and social care, but we continue to encourage vaccination as the best line of defence for staff and patients against COVID-19.
I have been fully vaccinated through my GP practice. How do I provide proof of my vaccination status to my manager?
Please provide your NHS number to your line manager or directly to HR by email so they can verify your vaccination status directly through the national database for immunisations and vaccinations. No other health information will be accessed through this database. The Trust privacy notice can be found on our website which provides further information.
Email: Covid19VaccineQueries@uhb.nhs.uk
Please note that NHS appointment cards cannot be used as proof of vaccination status.
I'm worried about receiving the vaccine. Who can I speak to for further information?
Support and help is available for people who are worried about getting a vaccination for any reason. Please email the vaccine queries inbox to be signposted to the most appropriate support.
Email: Covid19VaccineQueries@uhb.nhs.uk
Can I still have informal meetings with my manager?
Yes, supportive conversations are still encouraged.
I don't feel comfortable discussing my vaccination status with my manager. Who else can I discuss this with?
In the first instance we would encourage all employees to have informal conversations with their line managers around their vaccination status and any concerns they may have.
If for any reason you would prefer not to have this conversation with your line manager, you may wish to contact your manager’s manager, or Occupational Health/HR on 0121 371 7612 or via Covid19VaccineQueries@uhb.nhs.uk.
I'm pregnant. Do I need a vaccination?
Yes. The virus is spreading widely among pregnant women, with more and more women being admitted to hospital with severe COVID-19 symptoms. That’s why the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians now recommend that all pregnant women are vaccinated.
The vaccine is the best way to reduce the risk of you getting COVID-19 and being seriously unwell with it.
I haven’t had my vaccine, where can I obtain this from?
COVID vaccines are available locally at GPs, pharmacies or local COVID vaccination clinics/hubs. Please see the following website for more information:
What happens if I can’t have the vaccine (i.e. I have a medical/clinical exemption)?
Where a member of staff believes they have a clinical/medical exemption, this must be evidenced and recorded appropriately. A Trust risk-assessment to identify the level of risk of exposure to the individual, other workers, patients and visitors will be required with the involvement of Occupational Health.
As a result of the risk assessment, managers may be required to put in place other measures and reasonable adjustments to help reduce the risk, which may include reviewing current personal protective equipment (PPE) use, regular lateral flow testing, remote working, sufficiently ventilated workplaces, cleaning regimes and hand hygiene etc.
What happens if I had the first vaccine but didn’t have my second? It’s been more than 12 weeks since the first vaccine
People are encouraged to receive the second vaccine at any point and there is no requirement to restart the course if the interval is longer than 12 weeks. The first dose should not be repeated, and every effort should be made to determine the vaccine used for the first dose and administer the same as a second dose.
I’m currently ill with COVID, when can I be vaccinated?
Vaccination should be deferred in those with confirmed infection to avoid onward transmission. People currently unwell and experiencing COVID symptoms should not receive the COVID vaccine until they have recovered. The guidance says this should be around four weeks after the onset of symptoms or from the date of a positive COVID test. This should therefore not affect the timescales for becoming fully vaccinated.
Do people who have had COVID need to be vaccinated?
Yes, they should get vaccinated. There is no evidence of any safety concerns from vaccinating individuals with a past history of COVID infection, or with detectable COVID antibody, so people who have had COVID disease (whether confirmed or suspected) can still receive the COVID vaccine when it is their time to do so.
The Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has reviewed this and decided getting vaccinated is just as important for those who have already had COVID as it is for those who haven’t.
Will I get time off work to go and get my vaccinations?
Ordinarily no, staff need to arrange to have their vaccination in their own time. Please speak to your line manager to see what can be supported.
Will I be paid overtime or expenses to go and get my vaccinations?
No. This is a personal medical appointment and not working time.
How will the Trust know my vaccination status?
Each Trust has different mechanisms for collating this information in line with general data protection regulations. This could be through the National Immunisation and Vaccinations System (NIVS/NIMS), a local Trust system, or through evidence from individuals using the NHS App.
All information will be treated confidentially and only utilised for the purpose of engaging with staff and establishing vaccination status.
