I am going to lose my much-loved job in a care home as I refuse to have the Covid vaccine

“As a carer in a care home I have decided not to have the mandatory vaccination and because of this I will lose a much-loved job as the government has said anyone working in a care home who refuses the vaccine, unless it is on medical grounds, will lose their job.

My decision to not have it, stems from the fact that it is an experimental vaccine to which I am not consenting to.

I have never said that I would not have it, but I am waiting for the trial to end so that I can weigh up all the cons and pros of it before saying a definite no or yes. At the moment the scientists and health organisations are still saying it does not give 100 per cent immunity.

To those who say that I am being selfish, irresponsible and am not putting residents first, you are so far off the mark and you only say that because of my refusal to have it right now.

Who was it that worked on the frontline throughout this pandemic, sometimes without correct PPE, covered colleagues' shifts because they were isolating due to vulnerabilities, never got ill, never been tested positive, have to endure 3x week testing and who never got a clap. Not vaccinated. It was me.

Putting residents first has always and still is at the heart of my caring. No one has ever questioned me on my dedication to residents. Now all of a sudden I am an irresponsible, selfish carer who shouldn't be working in the care industry.

There is no disrespect to anyone who cannot have the vaccination but they still prove to be posing the same risk as me. That also goes to some residents whose family members don't want them to have it. Those residents are not going to be thrown out of the home, those residents are not being called selfish or irresponsible.

The majority of residents and my colleagues have had the vaccination so are protected. I am very happy to continue wearing masks, PPE, having tests, like I have been doing all along.

I am not an anti-vaxxer far from it, I have been vaccinated against various diseases as have my children.

I have worked in two residential care homes on the outskirts of London over the last year and a half and have been a carer for three years. I would like to have continued in this profession until I retire in three years’ time but sadly this has now come to an end.

Many people have and will continue to say ‘just have it, it’s your duty to put residents first’. Well I can proudly say that I have always done that because that’s what is in my heart and no one can take that away from me.

I put residents first throughout the pandemic without the vaccination. I am proud to say there are no Covid cases in the care homes I have worked in.”