Unions react angrily to adult care home vaccination plans

British labor unions are reacting angrily to reports that the government plans to require COVID-19 vaccinations for people who work in care homes for older adults in England

LONDON -- British labor unions reacted angrily Wednesday to reports that the government plans to require COVID-19 vaccinations for people who work in care homes for older adults in England. Newspapers, including the Guardian and the Times of London, reported that the government plans to introduce the requirement after deciding that vaccinating care home workers would protect vulnerable residents. Ministers are expected to announce their decision in the coming days, along with a public consultation on extending the vaccine requirement to National Health Service workers. The GMB union said the government should focus on persuading workers to get vaccinated rather than imposing mandates that might alienate staff members. According to the union, more than a third of care home workers indicated they would consider leaving their jobs if they were forced to be vaccinated.