The CEO of a leading covid testing lab based in Liverpool slammed the government's vaccine mandate for health workers, due to come into force on April 1.
Around 1,000 healthcare workers at the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT), which runs the Royal Liverpool, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals, could be sacked if they aren't jabbed by Thursday, February 3.
With 80,000 people at risk of losing jobs under the new rules, and 40,000 registered nurse vacancies in NHS England, the move sparked fears of staff shortages.
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Dr Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad, based at Liverpool Science Park on Mount Pleasant, said: "12 months ago we were clapping for the NHS on our doorsteps.
"These workers have been on the front line throughout the pandemic and it is unlikely that an NHS worker would now choose not to be vaccinated as a vaccine denier, so the majority of these will have their own personal reasons, which we must respect.
"To discriminate against these workers after what they've been through would be vastly unfair and something I do not agree with.
"We're already saying the NHS is understaffed and at breaking point and to bring in these new restrictions to me seems vastly irresponsible and absurd."
Such fears are felt elsewhere in healthcare.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) called on the government to delay the new mandatory Covid-19 vaccination law for NHS staff in England as it would "exacerbate chronic staff shortages".
Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of RCN said: "Nothing matters more to a nurse than caring for their patients safely.
"Right now, our members are telling me they can't always do that.
"We're calling on the government to recognise this risk and delay a move which, by its own calculations, looks set to backfire.
"To dismiss valued nursing staff during this crisis would be an act of self-sabotage.
"Encouraging people to get vaccinated is the best way to boost vaccine take-up.
"Nursing staff, who are well-placed to understand people's concerns and are highly trusted by them, have led the COVID-19 vaccination programme and have a key role to play in addressing any concerns people may have about being vaccinated."
Defending the policy, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said it is the "professional duty of every NHS worker to get vaccinated", the Mirror reports.
He told the Health and Social Care Committee: "Since the mandate, since we announced a consultation in September, we’ve had around 100,000 in the NHS that were unvaccinated at that point that have come forward.
"So there's been a very good response."
