Andy Burnham slams mandatory vaccinations as 'heavy handed' and fears staff may leave NHS

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The Greater Manchester mayor has branded the mandatory vaccination policy, which sees all NHS staff required to get the Covid-19 vaccine, as 'heavy handed'.

Andy Burnham's comments come as the deadline approaches for staff to have had their first vaccine, before being fully vaccinated by the virus by April.

However, in Greater Manchester, new figures shared by the mayor show that Covid-19 patient numbers, and the region's rates of infection, could be levelling out.

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The NHS faces losing a number of staff members as the a policy comes into force, dictating that health workers must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by April – meaning staff will need to have their first dose of a jab by February 3 or be dismissed.

The mandate has prompted fears that there will be an exodus of much-needed medics, as the health system is already working through unprecedented staffing pressures.

In Greater Manchester, the Omicron wave has led to some 15 per cent of the NHS workforce being off ill or in isolation due to coronavirus.

The care sector, too, has faced similar pressures, as outbreaks in care homes and minimal staffing have seen sites close their doors to new residents.

Nationally, this spread of Covid-19 has led to thousands of staff not being able to work.

'There is a significant decrease in all boroughs of Greater Manchester' in coronavirus case rates, according to the latest figures shared by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Although, due to increased reliance on lateral flow testing, these figures are probably 'under-reporting' the level of infection out there, said the mayor.

There is also the 'beginning' of a rise among children due to the impact of the return of schools. The return of students will also