Esther Rantzen has gone viral on social media today after suggesting that people who refuse to get vaccinated against coronavirus or get the booster jab should make the decision “not go to hospital’ and “take up crucial space in ICU” if they become ill.
Speaking on GB News in a debate with singer Cheryl Baker about whether over 65s should be penalised if they do not get booster jabs, the journalist and presenter sparked controversy by saying those who don’t get the third jab or any at all should make the personal choice to refuse “resource from the NHS” and “stay at home” – however ill they get – to reduce pressure on the health service.
She started by saying: “People are going down like ninepins... The numbers are still enormously high.
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“People like me you see, if I got this horrible disease, I’m likely to take up really crucial space in ICU which I don’t want.”
After adding that NHS staff are “exhausted” by the demands put upon them, she added: “If we oldies are prepared to say ‘OK, if I get Covid, I won’t take any resource from the NHS, I shall stay at home and fall off my perch here’... then, OK, you have the right to say you refuse all medical help, be it a vaccine or be it the ICU.”
‘If you expect nurses and doctors to look after you, you must protect them. You must make sure they can prioritise people’
— GB News (@GBNEWS) November 11, 2021
Dame Esther Rantzen and Cheryl Baker discuss if it is wrong to threaten the freedoms of over 65s booster refusers. pic.twitter.com/NAsQX6KAQ3
Her comments come as the French government have announced that those over 65 who do not have a booster jab risk being barred from indoor venues.
Meanwhile, health secretary Sajid Javid has hinted that the UK government is considering a similar scheme, by refusing to rule out making it part of a Covid pass needed to get into certain venues as part of the government’s not yet enacted ‘Plan B’ response to rising infections.
Rantzen went on to say that unjabbed people risk passing on the disease to others. She added: “If you expect nurses and doctors to look after you, you must protect them and you must make sure they can prioritise people.”
Quizzed by presenter Dan Wootton on whether this meant she wanted to “ban the unjabbed from being able to access health services”, she clarified that she wanted people to make that decision for themselves rather than there being an outright ban. She said:
“No, I’m saying you’ve got to make that decision yourself... it’s your choice. If you decide that you don’t want a vaccine or a booster, then you can decide not to go to hospital, however ill you get. And that is your right.”
“So you would leave the unjabbed at home to die if they had a heart attack, if they suffered from a stroke,” Wootton challenged.
Rantzen nodded and said: “That’s their choice. If they’re unjabbed – if they take the decision they’re not going to use the medical evidence, follow the science as we say, recognise – because what the boosters do is not only protect you, but they protect other people, because you transmit the infection far less.”
Reacting to her comments, some people thought it was a bad take:
Esther Rantzen on @GBNews says ‘Anyone who refuses the vaccine, should not be able to use the NHS if they become ill and should die at home’ good luck all you ‘silversurfers’ 🤦🏼♀️
— MRS T 🌸❣️ (@werrylettuce) November 11, 2021
My mouth is still dropped open at these comments from Esther Rantzen. I’m honestly terrified that my fellow human beings have these vile views. 😔 https://t.co/w8sNdA9ep3
— A B I 🧊 (@abiroberts) November 12, 2021
Cannot believe Esther Rantzen here, who used to be a champion of the elderly. Now she is happy for them to be hostages in society if they won't have a THIRD vaccine. She supports selective passports to exclude them from buses and restaurants and even hospital care!! @danwootton https://t.co/Ui1eww99zE
— Renee Hoenderkamp (@DrHoenderkamp) November 11, 2021
Esther Rantzen- what about the burden to the NHS people of who have been admitted to hospital suffering from side effects to vaccines?
— Anna_S (@AnnaWondering) November 11, 2021
Then there’s people who are overweight, drink, smoke - are they not entitled to medical treatment due to those choices? #NoVaccineMandates https://t.co/O7lswcYM28
Did I really watch Esther Rantzen saying over 65s who don’t have the booster should be refused health care ? 😳😳
— Jez (@eaglejez) November 11, 2021
GB News continues to host diverse perspectives indeed.
indy100 has contactd Rantzen for comment.
