No10 was today urged to delay its controversial 'no jab, no job' policy for carers until April over fears the plans could backfire and kill elderly residents.
From tomorrow, all care home employees must have had two Covid vaccines to keep their jobs. Estimates suggest up to 60,000 workers will be made redundant.
Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, which represents providers in Yorkshire, has called on ministers to push back the deadline.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it must be delayed until next spring to help the sector through the winter, and to match the timeline set yesterday for the NHS.
He warned mandating jabs could kill vulnerable residents because homes would be left with 'unsafe' staffing levels.
Unions have already claimed hundreds of homes may be forced to close their doors for good from tomorrow because of staffing shortages. The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck.
Sajid Javid dismissed fears tomorrow's deadline would cause elderly residents to die, however. The Health Secretary insisted the policy was 'manageable' for the sector.
The above graph shows the proportion of staff working in care homes for the over-65s who have received their first and second doses of the vaccine. It reveals that there was no sharp surge in uptake when the jabs were made compulsory
Mike Padgham (left), chair of the Independent Care Group which represents providers in Yorkshire, has called on ministers to push back the deadline to next April in order to match the NHS. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said care home employees had had five months to get the Covid vaccine
Care bosses have repeatedly pleaded with ministers to delay the vaccine mandate for the sector. It is feared the plans will spark a mass exodus forcing home to limit their beds or close completely.
But Mr Javid yesterday extended the policy to frontline NHS staff, although delayed the policy coming into force until next spring.
NHS unions had called for it to be pushed back to this date to help hospitals through what is expected to be a difficult winter.
