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Coronavirus

17th Jun 2021

Hundreds complain to Ofcom over Covid rant on Jeremy Vine show

Kieran Galpin

Anti-Vaxxer, or the voice of reason?

The Jeremy Vine show has received hundreds of Ofcom complaints after a rather heated debate around the Coronavirus vaccine.

Beverly Turner, a radio and TV presenter, appeared on the talk show via video chat to discuss the coronavirus vaccine and those who did not want to take it.

Mrs Turner had the following to say:

“Less than one per cent of deaths are down to Covid-19.

“This has to be taken by a decision-by-decision basis because this is a clinical trial until 2023.

“We do not know the long-term effects of this vaccine for any individual. I do not judge any adult who wanted to take it. If they felt like it was informed consent I do not judge you.”

But, fellow guest Angela Epstein had a few choice words to say to Mrs Turner.

https://twitter.com/adepstein1/status/1404850941799669760

“Vaccine refusers are selfish, morally repugnant, irresponsible people who are enjoying their freedom because the rest of us are being vaccinated.

“Who are the people in hospital? The people who haven’t been vaccinated.”

Turner later shared a video of herself in tears on Twitter, where she labelled the show as an ambush.

“It’s not easy, it’s really hard. I know I keep my calm but the ambush when all you want to do is have a conversation.

“It’s a shutdown debate. It’s a one-sided conversation about something that’s so huge and has so many implications for so many people.

“The idea that the fear of Covid always trumps the fear of the vaccine is cruel. I didn’t enjoy that this morning – I found it really hard.”

It is important to mention that most of the Ofcom complaints were actually about Turner’s comments.