A joint letter, signed by 14 UK optical bodies, stressed the need for the Covid-19 vaccine as part of professional safety guidelines.
The letter addressed all optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical businesses on the importance of vaccination against transmissible diseases, and the personal and professional responsibilities that healthcare professionals have under the GOC’s Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and Standards for Optical Businesses.
The College of Optometrists and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians have released online videos and resources to establish a better understanding of how vaccinations protect professionals and their patients.
The letter stated: ‘Colleagues in patient-facing roles should be vaccinated in line with each nation's public health advice. We encourage employers to support this by sharing the benefits of being vaccinated with their staff.
‘We advise that where a healthcare professional is not fully vaccinated because of a medical exemption or other reason, they must ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to mitigate the risk of coronavirus transmission to patients and colleagues by conducting risk assessments and following rigorous infection prevention and control measures.’
The letter advised professionals who were still unsure about whether to have the primary vaccine course and booster to speak to their employer, professional body or GP, or access public health advice online.
