ALMOST all care home staff currently working in Herefordshire are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, the council said, as the deadline for compulsory jabs loom.

Figures published by NHS England showed 197 of 2,333 people working in older adult care home in Herefordshire were yet to receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on October 24 – the latest available data.

But Herefordshire Council said that not all of those 197 people were not actually currently working – some could be on maternity or on long-term sick leave.

Instead, director for adults and communities Paul Smith said 98 per cent of care home staff working in the county had received their second dose of the Covid vaccine.

He said the council was "working closely" with care homes to ensure the remaining staff complied with legislation and were fully vaccinated by November 11.

From that date, care home staff will be required by law to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus to work.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our message is clear: vaccines save lives and while staff and residents in care homes have been prioritised and the majority are now vaccinated, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect vulnerable people.

“We are working closely with local authorities and care home providers to ensure there will always be enough staff with the right skills to deliver high quality care.”