ONE in nine care home workers in Trafford is still not vaccinated against coronavirus, as the deadline looms for them to have two doses.

After a decision made by MPs in July, all eligible workers in a care home for older adults have to be double vaccinated by mid-November.

But the decision has been described as 'ill-thought-out' by care home bosses, who fear a major staff shortage is to follow.

Figures from the NHS show 177 out of 1,668 eligible workers, including agency workers, have not received a first dose.

This proportion of 11 per cent is lower than in June, when 18 per cent were still not vaccinated.

However, Nadra Ahmed, chief executive of the National Care Association, said she was 'extremely concerned' about the impact of forcing unvaccinated workers out of care homes in November, as there are already around 115,000 vacancies nationwide.

Ms Ahmed said: "We are extremely concerned at the impact of this, which we believe was never properly thought through – we have a huge number of vacancies already and because of this legislation more people have left or are leaving.

"Some members of staff are not taking the vaccine for a number of reasons, personal and cultural, and their loss will be badly felt.

"The care sector has been discriminated against through this legislation, which only adds to the problems we have already."

The legislation was put forward by the Government following evidence of vaccine hesitancy among care home workers in areas of England.

It also followed advice from the Social Care Working Group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, or SAGE, that 80 per cent of care home workers needed to receive a first dose to ensure the minimum level of protection against outbreaks.

In Trafford, 31 out of 38 care homes were achieving this target by last week.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "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 reduce the risk for vulnerable people.

"We continue to work to encourage adult social care and care home staff to get vaccinated in local areas where uptake is lower so that care homes are able to comply with the new regulations which come into force in November."