Michelle Dewberry calls on MPs to end the NHS vaccine mandate

From 1 April 2022, all health and social care workers in England who have face-to-face contact with patients, will need to provide proof they have been fully-vaccinated, unless they are exempt.

The policy applies to those working within the private sectoras well as the NHS, and affects workers including doctors, nurses, dentists, porters and receptionists, to name but a few.

The deadline for the first vaccination is February 1st 2022.

It is estimated that there are around80,000 unvaccinated members of staff in NHS England– although some fear it could be up to 100,000. Although the NHS will look to offer ‘re-deployment to non-patient facing rules’ it seems somewhat bizarre to expect a doctor or dentist to move to a paperwork role.

Whilst we understand concerns that vulnerable patients need to be protected from the risk of Covid, it is now also the case that 91% of people in England over the age of 12 are vaccinated against Covid. Within NHS England, it is estimated that 95% of staff are vaccinated. Transmission of Covid can also be reduced by other mitigating factors including effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilation.

NHS England is in a bleak position. Current waiting lists stand at six million, the highest since records began, with some estimating it may be higher and already hundreds of thousands of those people have been waiting longer than a year for care.

At a time where NHS England is creaking at its knees, we simply cannot afford to lose tens of thousands of staff. It will be a monumental act of self-harm and have a knockon effect to the care levels NHS England is able to provide.

It is because of the current condition of the NHS England and the impact of losing tens of thousands of staff, that Dewbs and Co today launches #OutdateTheMandate in a direct call to the government to drop this mandate.

We urge our viewers and listeners to write to your MP (you can copy and paste the template below) and to get in touch with us to share your stories: outdatethemandate@gbnews.uk

Click HERE to find out who your MP is.

#OutdateTheMandate Template

Dear ______

I am deeply concerned at the potential job losses in the NHS if vaccines are mandated for all patent-facing staff.

At a time where NHS England is creaking at its knees, we simply can not afford to lose tens of thousands of staff.

This is why I am asking you, and all parliamentarians to Outdate the Mandate.

Regards,