Daughters carer refused covid vaccine

[Nevic84]

My daughter 6 has multiple health needs mainly a tracheostomy but also a weakened immune system and minor heart defect.
She’s a happy and otherwise healthy child.
But she’s classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
She has 1:1 carers as her condition is life threatening.
Her main carer has refused covid vaccine.
Not for any religious or health reasons she doesn’t want to be bullied into having it and if she gets it she’ll get it when she wants and not before (her words)
In her personal life she’s not following covid restrictions and having people over her house and going into other peoples house and visiting public places a lot only wearing mask when mandatory.
What’s peoples opinions and how would they deal with it?
Aibu to think if you work in care you would care enough to want to protect those who couldn’t be protected?
I worry about my daughter everyday I feel scared for her.
As an employer I can’t force her to have it.

I agree with the others - get rid and find a carer who is vaccinated as your daughters health is too important to risk.

Has anyone got any figures on what the risks are for a 6 year old with pre existing health conditions? I was under the impression the risk was extremely low.

Wow, she sounds so ignorant and arrogant. To say that to you as the parent of the child she cares for is breathtaking. Also, she might be a carer for your daughter but clearly doesn't really care about her, or her conscience would kick in and she would realise she is being utterly selfish. I would get rid and would not trust her with my daughter as she doesn't have her well-being as a priority. Telling you she is flouting the Covid rules to such a degree is enough to sack her anyway. I'm so sorry for you as it must be stressful but she is not a good person. She must be pretty thick to not realise your daughter's vulnerability - although I suspect she doesn't give a toss.

@GladysTheGroovyMule

I’d be finding a new carer. She’s free to do what she wants but there’s consequences to that and your daughters health and well-being comes before this person’s bloody mindedness.

This^

@bp300 Friends of ours have a 10 year old child who is currently very sick with Covid. This child had NO pre-existing conditions.

OP, I would fire her. How dare she put your child at risk.

@bp300

Has anyone got any figures on what the risks are for a 6 year old with pre existing health conditions? I was under the impression the risk was extremely low.

I doubt there are many 6 year olds with a trachy who have caught Covid and I wouldn't want mine to be the first to be honest.

If I felt that a carer was not adequately protecting my child from risk I would have to seriously consider disciplinary procedures. This is such a personal position, trust is a massive thing. I am neither pro nor anti vax but do understand the issues involving vulnerable children and trache changes and in your case I would be looking for a new carer

Your carer has the right to refuse the vaccination.

You have the right to put your child’s well-being first. In your position I would find another carer.

She is not fulfilling the requirements for the safety of your child so you are perfectly within your rights to tell her to work elsewhere.

It’s a tricky one. You’re both entitled to the opinions that you hold and I can completely empathise with both. What swings it for me is that the carer isn’t sticking to the rules re: socialising.

Do you check that she’s had all of her other vaccinations? I imagine flu, mumps etc would also be serious for your daughter,

What does your contract with her say, and are there any other carers available with capacity and the skills that you need?

Hope you come to a suitable resolution op.

I lost any sympathy for her when you said she wasn’t following any rules. She’s been putting your daughter at risk for months.

I'd have zero tolerance to this. If I had a child with such a serious condition, I wouldn't hesitate. If the carer wants to put herself and others close to her at then so be it. Not your child. She's not worthy of being your child's carer. That's a very responsible position and she's not being responsible. This has made me feel very angry on your behalf. She's not a carer.

Sheer hypocrisy if she’d have it to go on holiday but not to protect her clients.

For a career she obviously doesn’t care that much.

Is there a health and safety clause in her contract? She's not keeping to her side of it. It might become compulsory for carers to have the vaccination but I wouldn't wait until then.

I'd let her go immediately.

It's up to her to choose whether she wants to be vaccinated, its up to you to choose who you employ. Give her whatever notice her contract states, either make her work it or if you can afford it don't, then get someone who prioritises the care needs of your child within the context of her job instead. Why are you so happy about you getting the vaccine if it barely makes any difference to the risk your child is at currently?

If she drank half a bottle of vodka every morning & then drove your child around you wouldn't wait until she crashed to fire her, why wait until her irresponsible and selfish actions bring Coronavirus in!? Plus she sounds like a twat. I couldn't listen to the fucking entitled self-involved, ignorant nonsense she is spouting without losing my shit immediately, quite aside from the risk she is choosing to put your child at with her behaviour. If you knew all of this you should have got rid of her a long time ago!?

I'd get a new carer (ask the other one for a recommendation). There are plenty of people looking for work right now.

To be honest I'm confused that you are posting this here. Surely common sense tells you to get rid of her?

Have you emlyed her 2+ years?

If so, she has unfair dismissal rights. You'd need a fair reason and to follow a fair process. If you don't, she can sue you. There's no neat box this falls into (like redundancy or misconduct). Legally the 'fair reason' would be classed as 'some other substantial reason'. The process would involve holding a formal meeting. Speak to Acas to see if they can help.

If she has less than 2 years' service I'd personally fire her as soon as I had alternative care in place.

My dd has carers too, both carers are vaccinated (1st vaccine), my daughter isn’t clinically vulnerable but I would feel more comfortable that her carers are vaccinated. In your position I would be looking for another carer.

*employed (obviously!)

Get rid of her. As a carer you put others needs before your own. She isn't doing that.

You certainly can’t stipulate that she gets the vaccine. It’s her right not to. However, her mixing with others is really off and I wouldn’t be impressed with that.
Is she actually telling you that that is what she’s doing?

She isn’t doing anything wrong by not having the vaccine, you can’t pressure her, but you shouldn’t have to employ her either.

I know someone who is in a similar position to your dd’s carer and she’s refusing the vaccine because she’s ttc, she just doesn’t want to tell everyone that.

Doesn't sound very caring to me

Kick her to the curb. Absolutely unacceptable, her selfishness in mixing and pigheadedness about the vaccine could cost your little girl her life.