Where do household staff fall on the COVID-19 vaccination priority list?
Positive news has been dominating the headlines in the last week as the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use within the UK and we’ve seen 91-year-old Maggie be the first to step up and get the long-anticipated jab. Now the vaccine is starting to be administered, it’s only natural that people are curious to know when they might be able to expect to have it offered to them.
For household staff whose livelihoods rely on them accessing other people’s homes, news of a vaccine can be a welcome relief and mean that their working lives might feel a bit safer. But, where do household staff sit on the priority list for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?
Where do household staff fall on the coronavirus vaccination priority list?
At present we are in Phase 1 of a 3-phase vaccination plan. With each phase are considered groups of people who will be prioritised with the vaccine, starting with the most vulnerable in Phase 1. The aim of Phase 1 is to reduce mortality and support the NHS and social care system around the UK.
As a part of that aim, the only occupational group who are prioritised when it comes to the vaccine are frontline health and social care workers. In all other cases, a person’s priority level is determined by their age or health factors, including whether they are at high-risk.
On the decision to not prioritise people other than frontline health and care workers by occupation, The Government explains: “The committee considered evidence on the risk of exposure and risk of mortality by occupation. Under the priority groups advised below, those over 50 years of age, and all those 16 years of age and over in a risk group, would be eligible for vaccination within the first phase of the programme. This prioritisation captures almost all preventable deaths from COVID-19, including those associated with occupational exposure to infection. As such, JCVI does not advise further prioritisation by occupation during the first phase of the programme.
“Occupational prioritisation could form part of a second phase of the programme, which would include healthy individuals from 16 years of age up to 50 years of age, subject to consideration of the latest data on vaccine safety and effectiveness.”
When is Phase 2 of the vaccination programme?
At present, there have been no confirmed reports about when Phase 2 of the programme will start. What we do know, however, is the aim of this phase and the groups whom it will prioritise. The aim of Phase 2 will be to further reduce hospitalisation due to the virus and will be taking occupation much more into consideration.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed which occupations will be prioritised, the Government list these as the likely groups:
“first responders
the military
those involved in the justice system
teachers
transport workers
public servants essential to the pandemic response.”
So, it looks as though household staff might have to wait for Phase 3 until they are offered the vaccine. The only time a member of household staff might be able to get an earlier vaccine is if they fall into a potentially vulnerable category, depending on their age or health.
This is disappointing news as household staff often have to work so intimately with families who they do not live with, however, the job of rolling out a nation-wide vaccination is not one that has been undertaken before and we must understand that there are high priority groups who need this vaccine.
Until then, we encourage all staff to follow government guidance on social distancing and safety protocol when working. And, for those whose employment situation might have changed during this period, from private chef jobs to butler jobs, we can help connect you with the right role for you.
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