'Everybody should get the vaccine' - Nursing Homes Ireland CEO would support mandatory vaccination

There should be a zero-tolerance approach to healthcare workers who refuse a coronavirus vaccine.

That is according to the CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, who said he would back Government legislation if they moved to make it mandatory.

He said a risk assessment is conducted where a staff member does not agree to a vaccination.

But he told The Hard Shoulder he does not consider it appropriate for staff to refuse the jab.

"The advice that we've received obviously is that it's not mandatory - clearly what we'll have to do then is do a risk assessment.

"In any case, in any work employment - whether it's COVID or indeed any other challenges - one has to do a risk assessment, so that will inform [the] next steps ultimately.

"But I personally would feel that no, it's not appropriate.

"I think that as a society we should have a zero-tolerance in some respects towards the vaccination, particularly given what we've been through as a society and as a country over the last 12 months".

"If the legislators were to move and legislate for COVID vaccination, then that it something that we would absolutely support".

Mr Daly was speaking after managers at two Dublin nursing homes said they organised raffles and cash prizes as part of their efforts to encourage staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine.