The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has called for optometry to be included in a recently launched government consultation on proposals to mandate Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for frontline health and social care workers in England.
‘Any proposal that considers whether frontline staff in health and wider care settings in England should be required to have Covid-19 and flu vaccines must include optometry,’ said AOP chief executive Adam Sampson.
'During the pandemic our members have shown time and time again the vital role they play providing face-to-face patient care.'
Sampson added, while hospital optometrists would be required to be vaccinated under current proposals, it was unclear whether this would be extended to community optometrists.
'As a part of the primary healthcare family, all optical staff were made a priority group for early vaccination for COVID-19, so it is likely that if the proposal is supported, there will be a case to support the roll-out to those providing face-to-face eye care in the community as well,' he explained.
The AOP has said it will provide a response to the consultation after its own consultation with members. The government’s consultation was launched on September 9 and will run for six weeks.