will no longer have to accept a covid vaccination or risk losing theirjobs. care leaders estimate around 30,000 care workers have already been sacked, after the policy was introduced in care homes. they say the policy has added to recruitment problems. ministers say the proposal is no longer proportionate to the threat from the omicron variant, as our social affairs editor alison holt reports. this is a job that gail loves, but she faced losing it because she wouldn t have the covid vaccine. she is relieved by the government s decision to scrap mandatoryjabs. it means she can continue caring for people like 89 year old pat at her home in liverpool. these are my carers. they come in four times a day, and they ve been very kind to me, and i love them very much. there you go, you are already. both gail s colleague deborah
and pat have been vaccinated, but neither felt she should be sacked over a jab. you ve been coming here seven months, and you ve been in contact with me, like that, and that. so i don t agree with it. it s blackmail, it is blackmail. they can t make you do something you don t want to do. i know, my love. i couldn t imagine not seeing you every day, pat. i couldn t imagine! now gail won t have to choose between a vaccine which she believes hasn t had enough research, and herjob. you know, i can t think of anything i don t like about the job. it s what i m meant to do. it doesn t feel like a job. there is no doubt that vaccinations have been vital in protecting people who are older or disabled from covid. in care homes where vaccinations became compulsory last november, about 95% of staff are double jabbed. in home care, it s about 80%. hi, helen, it sjust sophie calling from the office, are you ok? but if mandatoryjabs had gone ahead for home care staff this april, the company where gai
step because the coronavirus cases have just soared in step because the coronavirus cases havejust soared in recent step because the coronavirus cases have just soared in recent days. step because the coronavirus cases havejust soared in recent days. [10 have ust soared in recent days. do we have just soared in recent days. do we know how long the lockdown will go on for? late we know how long the lockdown will no on for? ~ ~ ., we know how long the lockdown will no on for? ~ ~ ., ., ., go on for? we know that it will go on for 20 days go on for? we know that it will go on for 20 days and go on for? we know that it will go on for 20 days and it go on for? we know that it will go on for 20 days and it will - go on for? we know that it will go on for 20 days and it will be i on for 20 days and it will be reassessed after ten days but of course, everything depends on whether or not the infections to start to come down and people are hoping that the chancellor who i interviewed tod