Duncan Bannatyne says anti-vaxxers should go to back of queue for treatment
Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has hit out at anti-vaxxers who say they will refuse to take a Covid-19 vaccine, and argues they should not be prioritised for NHS treatment
Duncan Bannatyne has said that he thinks anti-vaxxers should not be prioritised for NHS treatment.
The Dragons' Den star, 71, has made clear his view of people who refuse to take a Covid-19 vaccine.
The entrepreneur's comments come following news from pharmaceutical company Pfizer that they had produced a vaccine with 90% efficacy when tested on a group of 40,000 people.
The announcement has sparked hope for a rollout of a coronavirus vaccine by the NHS to begin by the end of the year, with the UK securing 40 million doses of the shot.
However, the prospect of a vaccine arriving soon has also been criticised by some who have raised concerns about the quick trials.
Sharing his view of these critics, Duncan tweeted on Wednesday: "It is clear that some people, the #refusers will not take the #vaccine.
"Let them refuse, let them walk around with no masks after the rest of us have taken the #vaccine.
"Then let’s get the hospitals back open to cancer sufferers etc. And let the #refusers look after themselves".
The businessman also shared a reply to hit tweet who said there was "no need for a vaccine".
Duncan commented: "Don’t take it then. And show the world how brave you are by not going to hospital if you get Covid."
One person replied to Duncan's tweet asking: "Why are you concerned about those that don’t take the untested vaccine, if you are SOOOO confident it is safe? if you accept Hancock's injection of hope then you will be safe..won’t you? Why care about catching anything from those that don’t? OR are you in doubt yourself?"
Duncan shared this tweet and replied: "I am not in any way concerned about catching it after taking the vaccine.
"I am concerned about #refusers taking up hospital beds Read my tweet properly."
A different person criticised Duncan's stance, tweeting: "Also, suggesting that people who won’t take it should not be able to use the NHS is disgusting.
"We don’t deny smokers, alcoholics, drug users etc the use of the NHS because they abuse their bodies."
However, Duncan clarified his viewpoint on how anti-vaxxers should be treated by the NHS.
Quoting the tweet, he commented: "I didn't say they should not be able to use nhs. I suggested the many thousands waiting for cancer & other treatments should be brought forward and #refusers should go to back of queue."
Another Twitter user criticised Duncan, writing: "If this virus is so deadly and the vaccine is so great then what is it to you if I don't get vaccinated?
"You'll be protected and we'll all die like the scum we are. So what do you care? But that's not good enough for you - we must believe."
Sharing this tweet, the Dragons' Den judge wrote: "What it is to me is my concern for the NHS staff that you will go crying to should you get the virus."
Meanwhile, Britain's chief medical experts have stressed the importance of taking a Covid-19 vaccine which they assure will be vigorously tested and regulated before it is rolled out.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said on Wednesday: “I think the ‘mum test’ is very important here.
“My mum is 78, she will be 79 shortly, and I have already said to her, ‘Mum, make sure when you are called you are ready. Be ready to take this up, this is really important for you because of your age’.”
He volunteered to work around the clock to vaccinate people, adding: “We need speed and high uptake to get the big win here.”
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