The News and Star readers have shared their views on there being hundreds fewer people working in care homes due to mandatory vaccines.

Rules set by the Government last year stated care workers in England needed to have at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by September 16 to continue working, and two doses by November 11.

The move was in response to the high number of deaths in the care sector during the pandemic but was widely criticised, among fears of an "exodus" of care staff.

Here's what you had to say.

One reader said: "The jab mandate is one of the reasons the NHS is under crisis. Patients fit and well ready to be discharged but shortage of staff due to jab mandates now made worse with staff self isolating amounts to bed blocking in hospitals.

"The worse is yet to come with 73,000 NHS staff set to lose their jobs in March die to the stupid jab mandate. Anyone would think the NHS is being set up to fail by this government."

Another said: "I will be leaving after 5 years of doing a job I love and that I am good at because of this jab mandate."

One said: "Truth hurts, the facts are there for all to see, unvaccinated are more likely to spread it to others (because they're more likely to catch it), they are more likely to get ill, they are more likely to end up in hospital, they are more likely to end up in ICU and they're more likely to die.

This is fact, it's not arguable, it's not anecdotal, it is not anything to with governments or countries, it is stone cold fact."

Another added: "Then have the jab! It's really not difficult. It will protect the service users from the risk of infection from you and you also get to continue doing the job you apparently love. You will also reduce the risk of contracting Covid and/or lessen the symptoms if you do contract it."

What are your thoughts on the matter?