In a report by express, Last week, Sir Chris Whitty told the Covid Inquiry that making Covid vaccines mandatory was “100% political.” This revelation was shocking, especially after the government repeatedly claimed it was “following the science.”
How could the idea of mandatory vaccination even be considered if the Chief Medical Officer himself was against it? What about informed consent?
During the pandemic, care home workers were fired if they refused the vaccine, even though it didn’t stop infection or transmission. There was even a plan, later dropped, to mandate vaccines for all healthcare workers, threatening them with job loss too. At one point, the government even suggested vaccine passports for everyone to go about their daily lives.
It’s no surprise people felt forced into compliance. Now, through the slow Covid Inquiry, we’ve learned that Chris Whitty was skeptical of mandates. He believed, and still does, that everyone, including healthcare workers, should make their own decisions about vaccinations. He rightly pointed out that all vaccines and medicines can have side effects, some of which, though rare, can be severe.
He wasn’t wrong. The Covid vaccine caused serious injuries and even deaths in some cases, such as blood clots, paralysis, and myocarditis. Nearly 20,000 people in the UK have applied for compensation through the vaccine damage payment scheme. However, the system is strict—only those who are at least 60% disabled can receive payouts, leaving many with nothing.
Despite knowing these risks, the government pushed forward with mandates for care workers and ignored advice from its own Chief Medical Officer. They also sidelined science when making decisions like closing schools, causing lasting harm to children.
The government might argue that its decisions were made with good intentions to combat a dangerous virus. But for those now in wheelchairs or grieving loved ones lost to vaccine side effects, good intentions mean little.
Forcing people to comply instead of giving them full information and a choice has backfired. Public trust in vaccines has dropped, with many now hesitant. In fact, fewer than half of frontline healthcare workers get the annual flu jab.
The government must learn to treat people like adults. Be honest, share all the facts, and let individuals decide for themselves. Otherwise, trust in the state will continue to erode—and for many, that trust is already gone.
