According to estimates by the government, the new “no jabs, no jobs” rule for the NHS may only encourage around 20,000 people to be vaccinated against Covid.
After Sajid Javid’s announcement that all NHS frontline workers in England should be double-jabbed at Covid by April 1, a White Paper was released by the Department of Health on the effect of the policy.
The document estimates that just 22,000 of the 125,000 currently unvaccinated staff — including medics, cleaners, porters and receptionists — will get their Covid jabs by that deadline.
This also indicates that 73,000 ministers do not expect to be able to apply for the vaccines. If they fail, their job is at risk. The remaining 30,000 vaccine recipients are exempt from medical treatment.
Javid claimed that compulsory jabs were a good idea, although critics argue they’re unnecessary as 90 percent of employees have already been jabbed. 93% are also fully jabbed.
GMB trade union warned against the bulldozing’ policy, which will only worsen the current ‘crushing staffing crisis. Before Covid came along, the health system already had approximately 100,000 vacant positions. This includes a shortage of 35,000 nurses and 10,000 doctors.
Staff members who have not been vaccinated are already considering quitting, one nurse trainee told MailOnline. He said it was an insult after working so hard on the pandemic-stricken wards. Ryan Balment, 38 years old, had been expected to become a nurse within two years. However, he has now decided that he will be training dogs.
But advocates of the move — including former Tory health secretaries Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt — argue health workers have a duty of care to their patients.
Last night’s figures showed that over 11,000 people died of Covid from the virus after being infected at NHS hospitals.
This move aligns the NHS with care homes. Employees have until Thursday to receive two doses or face being fired.
The Department of Health published a white paper on the effects of this plan tonight, after Sajid Javid declared that frontline NHS staff in England must be double-jabbed for Covid before April 1. The document estimates that just 22,000 of the 125,000 currently unvaccinated staff — including medics, cleaners, porters and receptionists — will get their Covid jabs by that deadline. Ministers are expecting 73,000 to not come forward and lose their jobs by default. The medically-exempt remaining 30,000 are exempt
Trainee nurses have stated that they prefer being a dog trainer to the Covid vaccination. Ryan Balment, 38 (left), said that while he was training as a nurse, he would rather train to become a dog trainer than get the Covid vaccine. He’s currently in wards of a South West hospital. Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, stated today that frontline NHS employees will have to receive two doses (Covid jab) by April
According to figures, around 100,000 NHS workers have not received at least one dose. This graph displays the percentage of people who received the first dose (blue lines) and percentages that got the second dose (orange lines).
Below is a map showing the 20 hospitals trusts that have the lowest staffing in England. This data was last updated on September 30th, 2018.
When Mr Javid revealed the plans to the Commons today he said that he had carefully examined the evidence and responded and concluded that the balance was clearly in favour of one side.
“The information is overwhelming and proves that vaccinations are safe for people, which has saved many lives.
He continued, “Allow us to make it clear that nobody in the NHS and care who is not currently vaccinated ought to be singled out or made to look bad.”
“That is completely unacceptable. It is all about helping them make positive choices to help vulnerable people and their coworkers. They must also protect their own safety.
But NHS staff have said they fear colleagues ‘will simply leave’ over the move.
MailOnline spoke to Mr Balment from Devon. He said that he would prefer to leave the NHS than being told to use something that isn’t 100 percent effective.
He said, “I’m very disappointed. I felt that I had worked during the pandemic. A lot of people who I know worked through the pandemic.”
“You suddenly get told, without warning, that you will not be able to work unless this vaccine is available, it’s a real kick in the teeth.
According to him, the mandate would be more likely to encourage NHS workers to “rebel against” being vaccinated rather than to take the jabs.
He was asked his thoughts on what he’d do if Ministers made the same threat about sacking unvaccinated employees. [compulsory vaccination]I knew it was happening, and that is why we were looking into dog training our partner. This was something I believed was important so that there were other options.
Balment stated that while he wasn’t anti-vaxxing, he was concerned about the possibility of getting the jab since it was only recently developed.
A non-vaccinated NHS nurse claimed that she was a Covid staff member in Greater Manchester. The woman, who asked not to be identified, said she plans to apply to Homebase as she is refusing to be vaccinated.
After contracting the virus in March 2020, the mother of three claimed that she performs regular lateral flow testing to ensure patient safety.
MailOnline reported that she said:[Making vaccines compulsory]It all seems so pointless and it makes me feel disappointed.
‘I have worked so hard to get my job, I have been working for 13 years now and it seems ridiculous to lose it over something that is well — getting a vaccine that doesn’t stop you from getting the virus.’
An anonymous Yorkshire nurse said that she was concerned about the potential impact of the new measures on her care.
According to the 38-yearold, “We can’t afford for NHS personnel to be reprimanded for not having mandatory vaccines in the middle of national crises and during winter,” the PA news agency reported.
‘I would encourage all staff to have the vaccines but do not agree that it should be compulsory… staff will simply leave and we cannot take that risk.’
London-based doctor who requested anonymity also said that the announcement might lead staff to ‘not take up shifts’ even though they are not quitting.
The doctor, in his 30s, expressed particular concern that agency staff would be affected by the policy, saying: ‘They already have quite tenuous requirements and experience in order to do the job anyway… I think if there was another hurdle that required vaccination, I suspect many of them wouldn’t take up the shifts.’
‘We as doctors… have the idea of consent for any medical procedure, any medication, it is the underpinning arch to everything we do.
“It is thus odd that we’re being forced to consent and say no, as well as a waiver of our regular healthcare rights.
According to data, making Covid mandatory IS NOT the best approach for increasing uptake.
ONS data indicated that the greatest motivator behind getting jabbed by un-vaccinated Britons was wanting to protect themselves and others from Covid.
A survey has revealed that compulsory Covid vaccinations do not work well to increase jab use.
A survey by the Office for National Statistics asked 4,000 Britons about what would motivate them to have their shot.
19% of respondents said that protecting themselves from Covid and other diseases was their main reason for getting the vaccine later.
Facilitating relaxation and allowing life to return back to normal was the most common motivator. Making it easier for people to take holidays (16%) was second.
However, being told by their employer that they need the shots in order to continue working at the company dropped them to 13 percent as the most probable motivator.
The same thing happened as when a voucher was offered to get vaccinated, also 13 percent.
Reports today suggested that frontline NHS workers would need two doses to protect their jobs in the spring.
Experts warn that this policy may ‘backfire’ as it makes vaccine-resistant employees less likely to receive the jab. Health chiefs fear that it will also lead to mass exodus.
Dr. X said that the focus on mandatory vaccinations rather than personal protective equipment (PPE), is an attempt to pretend you are back to normal.
Another union rep at a Sheffield NHS trust hospital raised concerns, saying that he wanted all employees to have the vaccine, if possible, and the possibility of their colleagues being fired for refusing the vaccine is worrying.
The NHS has a higher vaccine uptake than the general workforce. Yet, at a time of significant staff shortages, this mandate is being imposed on us along with other care workers.
This is from the very Government which has repeatedly refused to take any measures that would reduce Covid transmission across the society.
“Both are under severe pressure after a decade-long period of austerity, cuts and a demoralised workforce that is afraid of the future as they head into winter.
“Staff have already quit their jobs and many others will follow suit, as seen in the adult residential care sector as a consequence of this legislative amendment to their employment.
According to a union poll, only four out of ten workers in healthcare supported mandatory vaccinations.
Helen Bedford, Great Ormond Street Institute for child health’s children’s health expert, said that mandatory vaccinations could backfire.
‘When there is concern about less than optimal vaccine uptake rates, making vaccination mandatory can seem the obvious solution — but it can backfire. It could make those who are not sure about vaccines more resistant.
“There is ample evidence to show that it is better to give people the opportunity to talk openly about vaccination concerns with those who are unsure, and ensure they have access to vaccines.
Chris Hopson (chief executive at NHS Providers), which represents hospital trusts said mandatory vaccinations in the NHS might lead to a loss of’significant amounts of staff’.
He said: ‘The problem for both social care and the NHS is we run these systems incredibly hot on very, very fine margins. We both have around 90-100,000 vacancies.
‘We are completely reliant on our staff to… work extra shifts in order to do the work that needs to be done.
“Losing large numbers of employees, given both the stress and the urgency of these systems, is a serious problem.
“And that’s because we’re very clear to the Government they must help us manage this danger.”
Hopson said that this rule may help increase uptake and allow hospitals to have conversations with vaccine-reluctant employees.
He said: ‘If you look at other nations that have done this, there is no doubt that if you do it carefully, at the point when you announce the fact that you are going to have mandatory vaccinations in the sector, it does provide quite a useful opportunity to then have those kind of further conversations.
“So, if it’s done right, in fact, it might be quite useful to spur the take-up up to some senses. But, the thing that we need to avoid, as I mentioned, is making people scapegoat.
Dominic Raab released a defense of this decision today, before the public announcement. He stated that it would give society’s most fragile the protection they deserve.
Sky News reported that he did not confirm that jabs will be compulsory in the NHS. However, he said that it was vital to increase jab use by any means possible.
Raab explained that it is crucial, especially in winter when we are dealing with vulnerable situations, like care homes, the NHS, to make sure the people who live there are adequately protected.
“We need to move past any level of jabs that is necessary.”
ITV’s Good Morning Britain host, He said: “Ultimately, we need to protect the lives of people living in these vulnerable environments. This is a tough choice.
“But, I believe we would be receiving a lot more criticism if not taking these difficult decisions. We were leaving people more exposed and unnecessarily exposed than ever before.
This graph displays the percentage of care home staff who received the first and second doses. The graph shows that the vaccine was not a popular choice when it became compulsory.
This map illustrates the five regions where over one-fifth of all care home staff have yet to receive two doses.
Louise Akester (36) was seen in an online video weeping after her firing from Alderson House (an NHS care home in Hull). Inquiring about long-term side effects, Akester said she was concerned. My job is something I truly love with all of my heart.