Some care home bosses have said that a large proportion of their staff will refuse to have the coronavirus vaccine.
Some have said that as many as ‘60%’ of staff say they won’t have the jab, after care home managers in Greater Manchester canvassed staff ahead of the vaccine rollout, the Manchester Evening News reports.
There are legitimate medical reasons not to have the vaccine, like allergies, and it is a personal decision, however plans to vaccinate care home workers could hit a stumbling block due to this resistance.
One care home director in Greater Manchester, who wished to remain anonymous, told the MEN that 40% of his workers plan to decline the vaccine, which is about 20 members of staff.
He said: “I’m pulling my hair out with staff throwing conspiracy theories at me.”
According to him, the reasons for not wanting the vaccine range from concerns over having an unknown substance in their body, to thinking the vaccine injects microchips into them.
He said: “It’s massively concerning to me as a care home manager and as a human being who wants this virus to be gone and done away with. I’ve got staff who say they worry about what they put in their body then go outside to the smoking shelter.
He blamed social media for some of the uncertainty, adding: “You should not be allowed to complain about restrictions if you are not prepared to take the vaccine.
“We are never going to get there if people start prevaricating. It’s a concern that the conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxers are having an impact on the uptake.”
And it’s not just staff who are set to refuse, with some managers also having doubts about taking the vaccine.
One boss in Trafford, who also requested to remain anonymous, said 60% of her staff indicated they wouldn’t take the vaccine, including her.
She said: “I totally understand where my staff are coming from. I’ve had Covid so I have the antibodies. Myself and my deputies will not be having it.
“I just think there needs to be a bit more time before I’m willing to have it. I think the thing you have to remember is the vaccine isn’t a cure.
“You can still carry the virus, you can still get the virus. So it’s not going to change the minds of staff who don’t want it.”
