More than 300 carers look set to leave their care home roles across Hertfordshire, including Hitchin, rather than have the Covid vaccine.

New government rules mean that from November 11 staff will no longer be allowed to work in care homes unless they have had two doses of the vaccine or have a medical exemption.

In order to meet that deadline they would have had to have had the first dose by September 16.

In Hertfordshire the vast majority of the 10,380 care home staff in the county including in our town and surrounding areas have had the vaccine.

But, according to the county council, there are still 348 care home workers who have 'declined' to have the vaccine – who will no longer be allowed to work in care homes.

In addition there are more than 175 staff who have had their first dose of the vaccine within the past two weeks.

That means they won't be double-vaccinated by the November 11 deadline – so will have to remain absent temporarily too.

Adult care bosses at the county council – who are already working with care providers – say there should not be any change to the level of service offered to care home residents, as a result.

They stress that vaccination rates amongst staff in Hertfordshire are slightly higher than the national average.

However they are also promoting an ongoing recruitment drive for care workers, in partnership with the Herts Care Provider Association.

Speaking directly to the LDRS, director of adult care services Chris Badger says the county council has been encouraging staff to have the vaccine – with some success.

Webinars, fact sheets and personal visits from NHS colleagues have all been made available to help care home staff address their concerns.

But while he continues to want as many staff as possible to take the vaccine, he says it was always 'unrealistic' to expect that all staff would have the jab.

Accepting vaccination has to be a personal choice, he stresses he does not underestimate how difficult the decision has been for some staff.

"I believe very strongly in the vaccine," he said. "But I also understand that people have those personal choices."

In making the case for the vaccine, Mr Badger points to the 'transformative' impact vaccination has already had on outbreaks in care homes in the county, where 97 per cent of residents have had the jab.

He says it has "absolutely saved lives," adding: "My primary concern is always the welfare of people receiving care in Hertfordshire," he said.