Following England making it mandatory for all healthcare workers to be double vaccinated against Covid-19, the Manx government has said it will consider the move in the island. We asked the public what they thought.

Glen Forbes, from Douglas, would support the choice to make it mandatory but felt it wasn’t as clear cut as it seemed.

She said: ’I’m all for freedom but I think this is really unprecedented and there’s been nothing like it.

’I’ve been swayed to believe that the risks aren’t worth it. You might feel a bit yuck after having the jab but it’s better than the alternative.

’I don’t think anything’s been passed like this since the last war.

’I do believe that it’s everybody’s right to choose but if you’re working in a setting where there are vulnerable people, you’ve really got to look at yourself and think about it, unless you’ve got any underlying medical issues and you can’t.’

The 64-year-old wouldn’t be concerned about being treated by an unvaccinated healthcare worker.

She added: ’I wouldn’t feel as vulnerable because I’ve been jabbed.

’If I got [Covid] again I feel I’ve got that little bit of protection, whereas if I hadn’t been jabbed and I’m being treated by someone who hasn’t then the risk goes up for me and them.’

Anna Christian, of Ramsey, felt differently.

The 50-year-old said: ’I think it is down to personal choice and that’s kind of being taken away from people at the moment.

’I am in healthcare and I am double jabbed but that’s by my choice.

’They’re starting to force people’s hands, it’s not the way to do it.’

Grandmother and granddaughter Sheila Clarke, of Onchan, and Kayleigh Smart, from Douglas, thought it should be mandatory unless there was a ’real reason’ why an individual couldn’t have it.

Miss Smart, 18, said: ’I believe yes unless there’s a real reason why an individual shouldn’t, whether that be health or a religious belief.

’I think if there’s no real reason why they shouldn’t then I don’t see why they shouldn’t.’

Ms Clarke, 74, agreed and added: ’I think people should get the flu jab as well because it’s horrible when you get [the flu], it’s not very nice.’

Miss Smart continued: ’I agree with that but at the same time it’s one of those weird areas where flu’s been here for so many years and Covid is this brand new thing so there’s things to consider there that that hasn’t been made mandatory before so I understand the argument of the Covid one is more important than the flu but there’s things to consider both ways.’

When asked if it should be the government’s job to mandate this, Miss Smart said: ’Yes, but I also think they should consider public opinion.

’I don’t think 10 MHKs should say "yes, we’re making this decision on behalf of 90,000 people", I think it should be a case of they hear from others instead of making the decision by themselves.’

Sharon Rose Apistar, from Peel, believed in a ’free world’.

She said: ’We don’t need to force any people, any healthcare workers, to do this. We live in a world of freedom.

’We need to consider their reasons as to why they’re not getting it and consider them, not just allow them to [be let go from their job] because they don’t have the jab.

’Because of this Covid it’s unfair that they will have no job, it’s heartbreaking. We still believe in a free world.

’I’ve had all the vaccines and I’ve had Covid so I’m not bothered if they’re vaccinated or not.’