Mandatory Covid jabs are likely to cost the care sector more than 100,000 staff, according to new figures.
Care England says at least 20,000 have gone from residential care since vaccination became compulsory for them in November last year.
And a further 88,000 working in private homes are set to follow under rules which mean they must have their first jab by Thursday.
That equates to one care worker being lost for every elderly and vulnerable person they look after.
Care worker Theresa Darby, 59, of Hersham, Surrey always masks up and wears gloves on visits but she is being sacked this week from her £11-an-hour job she has done for six years because she is unvaccinated.
She is frightened her enlarged heart caused by cardiomyopathy means the jab would put her in danger. But doctors will not give her a medical exemption.
She said: “This stupid and ridiculous government says people can now visit care homes without restrictions.
“But it is happy to fire those of us who do the caring..
“I’m being blackmailed by the government into having a vaccine which may harm me. It’s disgraceful.”
The Homecare Association estimates that nearly one in five of its members have not been jabbed - and losing them will come on top of 120,000 unfilled posts.
Frontline NHS staff and home carers need proof of being doubled jabbed by April 1. Up to 77,000 NHS staff will get dismissal warnings from Friday.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Care is in the grip of a staffing crisis. Homes can ill afford to lose experienced staff. But that’s exactly what’s happening.”
Dr Jane Townson of the Homecare Association said: “We strongly support vaccination. But persuasion is likely to be more effective than compulsion among those with genuine fears.
“The need is to balance the mitigated risk of infection with the risk of older and disabled people going without vital care. “
Martin Green of charity Care England said it was “grossly unfair” to single out residential staff six months before other care workers.
He added: “The virus is not dangerous for certain parts of the sector and not for others.
“And mandatory vaccination needs to be accompanied by the necessary resource and support.”
Tory backbenchers are pressing ministers to U-turn on the plan as the UK moves out of the pandemic.
And Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We’re reflecting on it because we do have to accept the virus has changed.”
Patricia Marquis of the Royal College of Nursing said: “The Government needs to come up with a fully-funded workforce plan.”
