Northern Ireland's Health Minister has announced a public consultation on a proposal for compulsory Covid-19 and flu vaccination for new health and social care workers in the region.
Robin Swann said requiring existing staff to get jabbed could be counterproductive and could further destabilise a workforce that is already severed depleted.
But he insisted no option was off the table and said he had "great sympathy" for the view that patients should only be treated by fully vaccinated staff.
The minister said making vaccines compulsory for new recruits to the health service would be a "significant development" and needed careful consideration.
He said there was not a predetermined outcome to the public consultation exercise as he urged people to make their views known.
The announcement comes after the UK Government announced that frontline NHS staff in England will need to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
Workers in England will have until April next year to get both Covid-19 jabs.
Mr Swann said vaccination is central to efforts to support health and social care services during this "extremely challenging winter" and beyond.
"I remain convinced that persuasion is the best and most effective option when it comes to vaccination," he said.
"There are compelling arguments that mandatory vaccination for existing health and social care staff in NI could be counter-productive, potentially destabilising an already fragile workforce.
"Against that, I also have great sympathy for those who only want their loved ones to be cared for by fully vaccinated staff.
"All options remain under consideration."
