England to require vaccination for all health service workers: govt

All frontline workers in the National Health Service (NHS) in England will need to be fully jabbed against Covid-19 from April 1 or lose their jobs, Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Tuesday.

"Having considered the... advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated," he told parliament.

The British government has been repeatedly criticised for its response to the coronavirus pandemic since the outbreak hit in early 2020.

So far, nearly 142,000 people have died within 28 days of a positive test for Covid.

But ministers have so far resisted calls to impose general vaccines requirements in enclosed public spaces, and although daily case levels have fallen over recent days, the seven-day average is still nearly 37,500.

(AFP)