On GMB today, viewers were left divided over a care worker who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine with some saying that they have ‘no sympathy’ that she lost her job over it.
The topic of compulsory Covid vaccines for care workers was discussed by hosts Susanna Reid and Rob Rinder in today’s programme.
From November 11, it’ll be mandatory for anyone who works in a Care Quality Commission-registered care home in England to be vaccinated. This is unless they are exempt from having the vaccination.
What did the care worker on GMB have to say?
Rob and Susanna welcomed Louise Akester, a former care worker from Hull, onto the show, and she had little good to say on the matter. She said she felt ‘lost’ now she didn’t have work to go to after refusing the vaccine.
“I think it’s absolutely disgusting the way they’ve treated us,” she said, referring to the care workers in the UK. “We were there right from the beginning when all of this came about. None of us knew what we were up against.
Read more: Kate Garraway details ‘great loneliness and fear’ amid husband Derek’s recovery
“Everybody else was put in lockdown and everyone was at home safe with their loved ones. And we were still having to go out and, you know, face all this, and it was petrifying. It really was scary. There were no vaccinations then. There were shortages of PPE. And we still turned up, and we still did our best.”
Why didn’t she have the vaccine?
Explaining her concerns about the vaccine, Louise said: “There’s other people, like myself, who don’t want this trial vaccination yet.
“We’re not saying we’re never going to have it but none of us know enough about it long-term wise. That is what is scaring a lot of people like me.”
A number of GMB viewers were angry with Louise’s comments on this morning’s show. Some took to Twitter to voice their displeasure.
What did GMB viewers have to say?
One GMB viewer said: “I like how she says she has no choice but to leave her job. The choice was to have the vaccine. The role of the job is to care for the residents and their wellbeing. If you don’t want to do these things then it’s your choice to find another job.”
Another wrote: “Sorry I have no sympathy, yes the vaccine might be a risk who knows but you are a known risk now to the elderly.”
Read more: GMB fans demand Martin Lewis be made permanent as he takes Boris Johnson to task
A third GMB viewer wrote: “Louise has effectively taken the decision to give her job up, no sympathy whatsoever.”
Another agreed: “No sympathy for those who refuse to have the jab just don’t complain when you need help.”
But, there were still some GMB viewers on the former care worker’s side.
One tweeted saying: “I love how quick people are to judge others these days, over a vaccine, seriously worried me this trend of not respecting other people’s decisions they make about their own lives.”
Another said: “But the vaccine doesn’t stop you getting COVID or transmitting it, so why do staff have to be vaccinated against their personal choice?”
A third wrote: “Thank you Louise Akester for speaking up and actually saying exactly what others feel who have not wanted to be vaxed.”
There are around 60,000 care workers who could lose their jobs by November 11 because of their refusal to be vaccinated against Covid19.
What do you make of Louise’s comments on GMB this morning? Head over to our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know!