Health workers in England will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 1, health minister Sajid Javid has said, making it a mandatory condition of employment for those on the frontline of the National Health Service (NHS).

According to Reuters, Javid said he had to balance the benefit to patients and colleagues with concern that workers might decide to leave their jobs rather than get the shots. He said workplace pressures were one reason the measure would not come in until the spring.

“All those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated. We must avoid preventable harm and protect patients in the NHS, protect colleagues in the NHS and of course protect the NHS itself,” Javid told parliament. “We intend the enforcement of this condition to start on the 1st of April.”