Vaccinations: employer obligations and employee rights 8 February 2021: As the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme gathers pace, employers are beginning to assess the dilemmas and responsibilities facing them if an employee refuses to be vaccinated.
Just over 10 million people have received their first vaccine dose in the largest vaccination programme in British history, with the UK closing in on the 15 million mark to hit by mid- February – a figure which represents the most vulnerable who are at a high risk of dying from COVID-19.
As this figure approaches and the programme moves into the general workforce, more employers are beginning to assess the legal dilemmas around employee rights and employer responsibilities if an employee declines to be vaccinated.