To ask Her Majesty's Government whether employers can insist that employees have a COVID-19 vaccine; what actions an employer can take in respect of (1) employees who refuse to have a COVID-19 vaccine, and (2) employees who refuse to work with employees who have refused the vaccine other than on medical grounds; and, in such circumstances, what are employers' health and safety obligations to their employees (a) individually, and (b) collectively.
Answered on
26 March 2021
The United Kingdom operates a system of informed consent for vaccinations. Employers are bound by a range of legal obligations to their staff including under employment, equalities, data protection and health and safety law and they will need to ensure that any vaccination policy is consistent with those legal duties.