Government figures have revealed just 4.2% of staff in older adult care homes have received their autumn Covid booster since roll-out began on 11 September.

Figures were similarly low for vaccine take-up by staff in care homes for younger people (3.2%) and domiciliary care staff (2.3%) as of the week ending 15 October.

Care home staff are among the groups eligible for free vaccinations during the autumn Covid booster programme.

Mandatory Covid vaccination for care home staff was in place between 11 November 2021 and March 2022.

University of Nottingham research showed the care home workforce declined by up to 4%, or 19,000 during this period.

In October, three former Barchester care home workers won a legal battle to pursue a claim they were unfairly sacked under its ‘no jab, no job’ policy.

The latest government figures show that absent leave due to Covid was marginal in the period to the middle of October with just 0.2% of care home staff and 0.6% of domiciliary staff reporting sick.

A major Covid outbreak took place at a Healthcare Homes’ Shipdham Manor in Norfolk in August with 28 people infected.

Healthcare Homes reported in September that all staff and residents infected had recovered well with many experiencing no symptoms at all.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Flu and Covid are both circulating this winter, so it is vital all of those eligible – including care workers – come forward to top up their immunity against the viruses and protect those they care for.

“We have made excellent progress with more than 18 million people jabbed so far, but we must not be complacent.

“We know how important social contact is for those who receive care, and it is vital both care workers and residents who are eligible get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect each other this winter.”