HEALTH minister Robin Swann has said he is against compulsory Covid vaccinations for care home staff in Northern Ireland after the measure was introduced in England.
The north was the first place in the UK to bring mobile teams into residential care facilities to administer jabs at the beginning of this year, leading to "large uptake" rates, according to Mr Swann.
Following a consultation in England, it is now law for care home workers to be vaccinated as a condition of their employment.
Mr Swann today told the BBC that he did not feel the move should be extended to the north.
"We're not in the place where we have to make vaccines compulsory at this minute in time," said Mr Swann.
"I don't think it should be necessary because I know the workforce that we have in Northern Ireland and they have been responsive, especially in our care home sector and the independent providers. That's why we made it available in the place of work.
"I've asked officials to engage with those independent sector providers and our trusts to explore what other options are available."
Nursing and care home staff in Northern Ireland were among the first priority group - along with care home residents - to receive their doses last December.
Pauline Shepherd, chief executive of The Independent Health and Care Providers, a group representing the care home industry, said uptake rates "vary from home to home" as well as for those based in domiciliary 'home help' care.
Ms Shepherd told The Irish News last month that current staff uptake in the sector was between "70 to 75 per cent".
She said younger female workers were among the "most concerned" about receiving the jab, particularly after "misinformation" about its link to infertility.
Ms Shepherd said she did not think compulsory vaccinations would work in the sector.
"I have spoken to the Public Health Agency about how we communicate the right messages to these younger women about the safety of the vaccine," she said.
"I don't think we're ever going to get to 100 per cent but I do think there are ways to inform and educate. Also, bringing mobile units out to those homes where there has been a reduced staff uptake will make it easier and more accessible."
Earlier this week, it emerged 'pop-up' vaccine clinics are to be rolled out in high risk locations to curb the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant.
Efforts are also being made made to encourage those with "vaccine hesitancy" to come forward for immunisation.
