A woman has been left "heartbroken" after being forced out of her care home job for refusing to get vaccinated.
Louise Akester, 36, has to leave the job she loves in a matter of days because she is currently unwilling to get the coronavirus vaccine.
The Government has said that all care home workers should be double vaccinated against coronavirus by November 11, unless medically exempt, Hull Daily Mail reports.
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Louise has not ruled out getting the Covid vaccine in the future but has said the situation is "unfair" given care home residents and their visitors are not required by the government to be vaccinated.
Even though choosing to not have the vaccine will cost her job, Louise, from Hull, said: "I'm still standing by my decision. My heart has been in that role of work for such a long time.
"I'm at a loss about what I'll be doing after I lose this job. I just feel so heartbroken."
The 36-year-old has worked in the care sector for 14 years, in residential and community settings.
For the last three years, she has worked at Alderson House in Hull.
"My manager has been quite emotional over it all as she really does not want to lose me," said Louise, who said she resented the government for its ruling.
"We should have freedom of choice. The only choice I've been left with is either having the vaccine against your freedom of choice, or lose your job.
"It's absolutely destroying me."
Louise viewed it as particularly unfair that there is no mandatory requirement coming in also for care home residents, or their visitors who are family and friends, to be double vaccinated.
"There can be unvaccinated visitors," she said. "It seems unfair how they can do it, yet I can't."
The care worker's contract is being terminated on November 5, with the government requirement for all care workers to be double vaccinated kicking in on November 11.
"I genuinely love my job with all my heart, I only earn minimum wage so believe me it isn’t the money keeping me there.
"But November 5 will be one of the hardest days of my life when I have to say my goodbyes to all my lovely residents.
"When I have to leave that building at the end of my final shift knowing that I can no longer return as an employee, all because apparently now I’m not good enough to protect them due to refusing the vaccines.
"This choice should be my basic human right. I do not deserve to be punished for saying 'no'...
"I'd rather wait until we know more about the potential long-term side effects."
While Louise has refused to get vaccinated this autumn, as part of her job's requirements, Louise has been tested three times a week for Covid, wears PPE gear, and follows "all guidelines relating to infection control".
Jeremy Brown, professor of respiratory medicine at University College London Hospitals and a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), has said health workers should get vaccinated "as a matter of professional pride".
A government impact assessment in the summer of the double vaccination requirement for care home workers by November 11 suggested around 40,000 staff would be unvaccinated by the cut-off point.
