Mandatory vaccines for NHS staff debated across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

It comes as reports suggest the Health Secretary may scrap the rule

Health worker
Author: Andy MarshPublished 31st Jan 2022

The Government's confirmed it's looking at possibly changing the rules on mandatory vaccines for health service staff.

Under the current guidance, workers will have to have their first jab by the 3rd of February or face being redeployed or made redundant.

The issue is being debated across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Julie Reneth from Hull has long campaigned against the policy.

She says "what's going to happen to the NHS service when they've sacked thousands of people".

"Who's going to look after the sick".

"What's going to happen to all the operations that have backlogged".

The numbers who are currently unvaccinated run into tens of thousands.

We also spoke to Zoe Stevens the public health nurse consultant at East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

She didn't comment specifically on the policy of telling NHS staff to get the jab but did talk about the benefits of being Covid vaccinated.

"It's about thinking about the impact of coronavirus".

"We know the vaccination is our biggest defence about this virus so by having that vaccine we're reducing the severity of the virus which will reduce the likelihood of needing hospital admission".

"It's about protecting others as well".