A Yorkshire NHS nurse has said she has chosen to walk away from the job she has been in for 30 years rather than have the Covid vaccine.
Cara Barnes, from West Yorkshire, has worked as a specialist nurse for three decades.
But she is set to lose her job as she is refusing to have the Covid-19 jab, which she claims is an "experimental drug".
Follow live updates from the 'freedom march' in Leeds city centre here
From April 1, all NHS staff will be required by law to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. It means those who are yet to be jabbed will have to have had their first by the start of February.
But Cara, who attended the 'World Wide Rally For Freedom' in Leeds city centre today (Sat), says she plans to stand firm.
Speaking to Leeds Live, she said: "I am not prepared to be injected with an experimental drug.
"Coercion is not a choice. It is not the fault of the NHS but I am disappointed - this is not how I saw my 30-year career-ending."
Can't see this survey? Click here
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the town hall in Leeds for today's protest.
NHS staff were seen hanging their uniforms up outside the entrance to the hall to symbolise what they have described as being "left out to dry".
David Hesford, 52, has worked in the NHS for 26 years and is currently a senior health care support officer.
He said he has been told he will be sacked if he does not have the jab but that he has chosen not to disclose his vaccination status.
David said: "If the government are going to sack me then they obviously do not care about me.
"Freedom is the first choice. I have chosen not to divulge my vaccination status - it is about choice."
Speaking this afternoon, Deputy lead for the NHS Covid vaccination programme Dr Nikki Kanani has said it is not too late to get jabbed.
She said: “If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, it’s not too late. There is always a vaccine available for you with your name on it.
“It’s there for you and no-one will judge you if you’ve decided just now to come forward for your first vaccine. Please come forward.
“You can book online through our national booking service. You can walk in through our grab a jab service, you can talk to your local health care practitioner or team.
“You will get the support you need to get protected.”
Dr Kanani said health care professionals “have a duty” to make sure they are protected.
Frontline staff must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with two jabs by April 1 – meaning they must have had their first vaccine on February 3.
Dr Kanani said: “Mandatory vaccination is a Government policy but as healthcare professionals we all have a duty to make sure that we are protected, to make sure that our colleagues and our patients are protected.
“I know that our teams will be doing everything they can to continue to have vaccine confidence building conversations and offering that all important vaccination to staff who are yet to have their first, second or their booster dose.”
Asked if patients will suffer if the NHS loses staff due to mandatory vaccination plans, Dr Kanani told reporters: “As we’ve seen through the pandemic, and of course those days before the pandemic that we don’t even think of very often, our NHS continues to deliver.
“What I want to say is to our patients who are listening – we will keep looking after you.
“That’s what we do in the NHS. Our general practice teams, our pharmacy teams, our healthcare services.
“We’re here for you, so don’t ever worry. The NHS is open. The NHS is there for you.”
Dr Kanani was asked about what she would say to staff who are protesting against mandatory vaccination.
She said: “I think it’s a really difficult time for some people to make a decision that is fundamentally about protecting them and their families and their communities.
“So, if you’re marching today, just take a moment, think about the people that you’ve been looking after who have experienced Covid, think about your colleagues who you’ve been working with, and think about the best way to make sure that we’re all protected, and that we’re all as safe as possible, because we are very much in this together and it’s down to us to look after each other too.”
To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.
