Loose Women panelists Carol McGiffin and Kaye Adams found themselves locking horns on Thursday’s instalment of the ITV show while discussing the government’s decision to dismiss unvaccinated care home workers.
The Loose ladies both hold strong opinions about the controversy and the panel erupted into a heated debate, which ended in a frustrated Carol raising her voice at her ITV co-star.
As of today, all care home workers in England must have been double jabbed, unless they are medically exempt, and the latest NHS figures are expected to show more than 50,000 current staff have not had both doses of a jab.
And of these figures, several thousand are understood to have self-certified as medically exempt or to have applied for formal proof.
The government’s decision to introduce the new Covid rules in care homes across the nation has caused outrage among NHS workers who worked tirelessly throughout the height of the pandemic.
However, the Loose ladies found themselves disagreeing on the touchy topic when Kaye admitted that she agreed with the new procedures, whereas Carol couldn’t have disagreed more.
Kaye started off the debate when she said: "I'm really torn by all of this. I don't want to convince anyone to have a vaccine that they are not comfortable with.
"I think it's really sad that we should be saying this to people after the 20 months that they have had and the dedication that our care workers have shown. I think that's horrific.
"But I also have to say, if somebody had to my parents that they are choosing not be vaccinated, I would have had a problem with them looking after my mum and dad."
In retaliation, Carol interrupted: "Well, I think a lot of people wouldn't though.
"I'm really uncomfortable with the decision to force care workers to have the jab in order to keep their jobs. I find it quite frightening actually. It's taking away people's freedom of choice."
Carol then raised her voice when she said: "You can't have the government saying that it's going to save lives because it's not going to. If all these people leave the care sector, it will be absolute carnage. I can't believe they are going to do it to NHS workers.
The heated debate got viewers tongues wagging and they flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter.
“Woah Carol really went for Kaye there. I have to agree with her though, these people worked so hard during the worst times and now they’re losing their jobs,” one viewer shared.
“There’s fire on Loose Women today!!! The drama,” someone else pointed out.
“Loving the debate on Loose Women. Sorry but I agree with Kaye, I don’t want any unvaccinated people looking after my grandparents. It’s way too risky,” another tweeted.
Meanwhile, another quipped: “Loose Women is more like Jeremy Kyle today.”
Loose Women continues tomorrow at 12.30PM on ITV.
