Fórsa’s national health team this week confirmed that there are currently no proposals to introduce mandatory vaccines for healthcare staff.

Concerns were raised last week when the union learned, via media reports, that NPHET was considering the mandatory vaccination of healthcare staff.

In a statement Fórsa confirmed that no proposals for a mandatory system of vaccination had been proposed to the union, nor had any such arrangement been discussed with HSE management or the health department.

Mandatory risk assessments have been in place for unvaccinated healthcare workers since January.

This week, Fórsa official Chris Cully confirmed that no proposals on mandatory vaccines have since been tabled.

“Since Covid-19 vaccines became available almost a year ago, Fórsa has actively encouraged its members to get the jab and to avail of other protective measures such as the ’flu vaccine', in order to maximise the protection of healthcare staff - and service users - throughout the winter months, and to limit the spread of the virus. Fórsa continues to communicate this message to its members,” she said.

The vaccination rate among healthcare workers and the wider population is very high. There is, nevertheless, a renewed caution about the latest Covid variant, Omicron, and Fórsa continues to liaise with the HSE and the Department of Health to discuss response measures.