The United Kingdom Government is considering making the COVID vaccines mandatory for the NHS staff as the ministers are consulting the experts.

“It’s absolutely the right thing and it would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to think as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated,” The UK minister for vaccines, Nadhim Zahawi said.

He said there was a precedent because surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B “so it’s something that we are absolutely thinking about”.

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: “Given we have got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS, I think it’s far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them. Threatening staff, I don’t think is a good idea.”

Public Health England and the NHS had been successful when they had worked with people to address their doubts and answer questions about the jab, she said.

“I would like to see the government work with the NHS and social care staff.”