Optometrists and dispensing opticians should be vaccinated in all settings where eye care is delivered, unless medically exempt, according to the General Optical Council.
The GOC has reiterated this message after a government consultation opened on whether to remove the requirement for health and care professionals to be vaccinated.
Leonie Milliner, chief executive of the GOC, said: ‘Our registrants, including business registrants, must continue to meet their obligations to protect patients and the public through taking steps to ensure that the environment in which care is delivered is safe and any risk of infection is mitigated. Getting vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, patients and the public is a personal-professional responsibility and a vital part of meeting this obligation.’
