James, 28, struggling to find work after losing his job for not being double-vaccinated
HE WAS A SUPPORT WORKER AT A HOME FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM
A FORMER Nottingham support worker is struggling to find work after he was sacked due to not getting both Covid jabs.
James Reeve, of West Bridgford, lost his job at a residential house for adults with autism after refusing to get jabbed before the November 11 deadline, which was introduced in order to help protect those most vulnerable.
Now the 28-year-old, who worked in Sileby, Leicestershire, says he is struggling to find employment.
“I’ve been left unemployed and poor basically. I didn’t think I’d be unemployed for this long,” he told the Post.
“It’s highly counter-productive because they’ve lost loads and loads of staff.
“It’s definitely not in the residents’ best interests to sack me – and they’ve had the jab. I’ve taken it my stride, really. Hopefully I can get another job but it’s honestly so hard.
“No, no I absolutely would not [get the jab]. The more someone tries to force you to do something the more you don’t want to do it. I don’t want to be forced into anything.”
Giving his reason for not taking the vaccine, Mr Reeve added: “I’m young and healthy and I don’t trust the Government to tell me what to do. It’s happened to a lot of people.”
Care employees across the country were told to get two jabs by Thursday, November 11 – unless clinically exempt. Unvaccinated staff who aren’t exempt could be redeployed to other roles, or could lose their jobs. But residents and their friends and relatives were not subject to the same requirements.
In its guidance on the regulations, the Government said despite protection from testing and PPE, and the best efforts of committed staff, there have been outbreaks across the country, and nearly 14,000 care home residents have died of Covid-19 since the beginning of this year.