Sajid Javid has told a man to “show some respect for the NHS” after he questioned why his booster jab was from a different manufacturer from his first and second.
Writing on Twitter, Dave Atherton - who describes himself as a libertarian who used to contribute to controversial right-wing blog Breitbart - said he had received two doses of Pfizer before receiving a Moderna vaccine for his third.
He appeared to question whether this was a good idea, by putting “world beating NHS” in quotation marks.
From our "world beating" @NHS. Went for my 3rd jab today, previously having had 2 Pfizer ones.
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) November 16, 2021
They were only using Moderna vaccines.
WTF is happening @sajidjavid?
“WTF is happening?” he asked, tagging the health secretary, prompting the minister to surprisingly respond:
“So what? How about you show some respect for the NHS.”
So what?
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) November 16, 2021
How about you show some respect for the NHS.
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On Monday, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended “all adults aged 40 to 49 years should be offered an mRNA booster, 6 months after their second dose.”
It is perfectly safe and effective to mix vaccines. Scientific journal Nature reports that studies show that “combining two different COVID-19 vaccines provides protection on par with that of mRNA vaccines — including protection against the Delta variant.”
Meanwhile, NHS guidance says: “Most people will be offered a booster dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or Moderna vaccine.
“This means your booster dose may be different from the vaccines you had for your 1st and 2nd doses.
“Some people may be offered a booster dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.”
Replying to Atherton’s tweet, many people pointed out that it was standard procedure.
Despite the very rude reply from @sajidjavid the idea is you have a different vaccine. Third time around. As before there is no choice it is whatever batch the vax centre has at the time. They have a very short shelf life once in the centres freezer so just take the one offered
— ever.hopeful (@byeverhopeful) November 16, 2021
It's good to mix the vaccines
— Roo (@RupertLichfield) November 16, 2021
I had 2 AZ and 1 Moderna. What's it matter? They all do the same thing
— 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕝𝕒 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥 🏴 (@angiebebeau) November 16, 2021
However, others pointed out that – regardless of it being safe to mix vaccines – replying to a member of the public querying something about the health service in that manner was a bit odd.
How about you show some respect for the taxpayers funding the NHS?
— Darren Grimes 🇬🇧 (@darrengrimes_) November 16, 2021
How about you show some respect for those stuck on waiting lists caused by successive lockdowns?
How about you show some respect for the care workers you’ve just laid off?
What an extraordinary thing to say. https://t.co/Mcju9GsGWe
Good grief. Seriously? https://t.co/F4lGYTD51z
— Allison Pearson (@AllisonPearson) November 16, 2021
And how about you show some respect for someone who quite rightly raised a legitimate question about the different booster vaccine🤨 https://t.co/YUUt53hzYd
— Penny Rimmington (@Olgachristie) November 17, 2021
He even attracted the wrath of Gillian McKeith – so she probably won’t be asking for his sperm.
And you @sajidjavid ought to show some respect for the people of this country instead of throwing your toys out of the pram .... You sound like you are unravelling.....composure waning...You work for us supposedly. Not the other way round . #Respectneeded https://t.co/eQbah5nOhi
— Gillian McKeith (@GillianMcKeith) November 16, 2021
Atherton then said the NHS was a service he pays taxes for “not a deity that should be worshipped”.
The NHS is not the end goal, it's a service I pay my taxes for. You seem to think it's a deity that should be worshipped.
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) November 16, 2021
You play up the fact you've a photo of Baroness Thatcher in your office. Take it down, you're no Tatcherite.
At this point, Javid appeared to realise that it is not the best idea to get into arguments with voters on social media and didn’t reply.
Probably for the best, Saj.
Indy100 has contacted Javid’s office to comment on this story.
