A North East care home worker who refused the Covid jab says she had to decide between keeping her job or facing life without children.
Suzanne Wilson, 34, was sacked after turning down the vaccine over fears it might affect her IVF bid to be a mum.
She is now among 60,000 social care staff in England out of work under the Governmentâs âno-jab no-jobâ rule.
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Suzanne, who worked at the same home in Hebburn, South Tyneside, for 15 years, claims she had no objection to the vaccine but worried it might dash her baby dream.
âI understand the importance of the vaccine â my whole family is jabbed, and as soon as I have a baby, Iâll get it,â said Suzanne, who has been trying for a child for six years with her partner Stephen Shaw.
âBut my doctor canât say categorically it wonât stop me conceiving, so Iâm not prepared to take the risk.
âThey donât think it affects fertility, but âdonât thinkâ isnât good enough.
âFor me, having a baby is more important than anything, so itâs come down to losing my job because of it.â
Suzanne, who had worked at 55-bed Hebburn Court since the age of 19, told how she was tested for Covid regularly and followed protection controls.
But now she is jobless and relying on 38-year-old tree surgeon Stephenâs wage as they await IVF through the NHS, reports The Mirror.
Suzanne said: âMy managers have been very supportive but their hands are tied. Nothing could be done.â
It comes as care bosses fear a staffing catastrophe this winter with 120,000 job vacancies already crippling the sector.
Campaigners fear the Governmentâs strict rule could trigger a mass closure of care homes due to staffing shortages.
The Institute of Health and Social Care Management said a fifth of homes will lose five or more members of staff.
Suzanne Wilson is gutted to have left her job as a carer
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Suzanne, who is now hoping to find work in hospitality, said: âThe impact is going to be huge. We are already in a care crisis.â
She sobbed as she recalled saying goodbye to residents and staff at her care home on Wednesday.
She said: âAll I have done is cry all day. Iâve put my life into this home. Some residents were crying when I told them I was leaving.
âFamily members who visit the homes donât have to be double-jabbed yet Iâm banished despite being head-to-toe in protective gear. Until someone can tell me the jab doesnât affect fertility 100%, I just canât do it.â
Small studies suggest no difference in IVF embryo implantation rates between jabbed and unjabbed women. But a key cause of vaccine hesitancy among young women is the fear of damage to fertility.
Suzanne had worked at the same care home for 15 years
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Suzanne said: âIâve offered to take a back role, do testing every day and wear every bit of PPE available but itâs not good enough.
âHomes are interviewing for staff and no oneâs turning up â and if you can earn more on an Aldi till, why would you?
âWorking in care is demanding. You have to be devoted to it.â
Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, said: âMost NHS and care workers have been vaccinated. Of those who havenât, most of them have legitimate, often heartbreaking reasons why.
âGiving these workers a no-jab no-job ultimatum is heartless. If we want more people to take the vaccine, they should be educated and reassured, not bullied.â
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