Ministers will decide whether the vaccine will become a requirement for NHS staff later today.

As it stands, front-line NHS staff in England must be fully vaccinated by April, otherwise they will be redeployed or dismissed.

The rule means they would need to receive their first vaccine by Thursday.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid revealed last week the decision was being “kept under review,” although still insisted it was NHS staff’s “duty” to be vaccinated.

The review follows the Royal College of Nursing’s worry over the introduction of the mandatory Covid vaccine.

In a statement published on their website, the RCN said: “The RCN has significant concerns that mandating vaccines will further marginalise those who are currently vaccine hesitant and put further pressure on a hugely depleted workforce by forcing people out of employment.”

The potential U-turn in the policy is a response to Omicron proving to be a more contagious but less severe variant.

There has been a higher rate of breakthrough infections among vaccinated people, although evidence suggests the vaccines keep the cases milder.

The requirement was originally proposed when the government were focussed on Delta, and the vaccine appeared to reduce the risk of infection and help stop the spread of the virus.

Since Omicron is now the dominant variant, Javid has said the policy needs to be reflected on.

There are increasing concerns that making the Covid vaccine mandatory for NHS staff could lead to a serious staff shortage, with around 77,000 still not having received their first dose.

If the expected scrapping of the policy doesn’t go ahead, come Friday NHS staff without their first vaccine will be given a notice period of until the end of March.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has called for a delay in the mandatory vaccines.

The Chair of the RCGP, Professor Martin Marshall, said: “We are also concerned about the significant workforce implications at a time when general practice and the wider NHS is experiencing enormous workforce and workload pressures.

“We simply can’t afford to lose highly-trained staff in general practice when we need as many as possible delivering patient care.”