MORE than 83 per cent of Lancashire care home staff have been vaccinated against Covid-19, new figures show.

Of the 13,320 staff eligible for the jab in Lancashire, 11,176 have been vaccinated. In Blackburn with Darwen, the figures show that nearly 87 per cent (998) of 1,125 eligible care home staff have now been vaccinated.

The data comes as Government prepares to make the vaccine mandatory for care home workers across the country.

Health secretary Matt Hancock is believed to favour the move, while England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said doctors and care workers have a "professional responsibility" to protect their patients.

Ministers are likely to announce the new measure over the next few days, following research into using staff vaccination to protect England's most vulnerable people.

There will also be a review into whether 'other' health and care workers getting the vaccine should be made mandatory.

There are significant concerns within Government, particularly in London, over a low uptake of vaccines by care home staff.

Overall NHS figures to June 6 show that 84 per cent of staff in older adult care homes in England have had one dose of vaccine, and almost 69 per cent have had both of the required doses.