In December 2020 the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the Medicine and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The vaccination programme has been a major component of the UK’s response to the pandemic since then, alongside the other measures, based on risk assessment and application of the hierarchy of control, which aim to reduce the risk of virus transmission and infection.

It is now national policy in England that those working in health and social care, who have contact with patients, should be vaccinated. The aim of this FOM Guidance is to provide background information which may assist Occupational Health practitioners.