SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- Back on September 9, President Biden announced mandatory vaccinations for federal workers and healthcare providers. That mandate has been put on hold due to an injunction by a federal judge.Â
Hospitals here in Sussex County are following suit but also holding firm in pushing for every employee to get vaccinated.
In a statement, TidalHealth Strategic Communications Director Paul Follebout Jr. says the pause should not stop workers from getting the second dose.
“If team members have started a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series in anticipation of the mandate, we encourage them to continue it and get their second shot to become fully vaccinated," Follebout Jr. wrote.
Both Beebe and Bayhealth specifically addressed Delaware’s vaccine mandate saying they will both comply with the rules set September 30 by Governor John Carney which required that healthcare workers be vaccinated or be tested weekly.
The Delaware Medical Freedom Alliance has had monthly discussions prioritizing the right to choose and is not an anti-mask or anti-vaccine group. Abraxas Hudson says he knows many hospital workers who have been worried about losing their jobs due to this mandate.
"They should have the right to choose right whether it’s their religious beliefs or their belief that COVID is very treatable," Hudson said. "So one of the issues that we see is the people are saying we're seeing adverse effects as a result of the shots that are being ignored and we are also seeing that there are treatment options that would easily address COVID that are being ignored."
Protests against the mandate are expected to take place Saturday morning at Beebe Hospital and another one Sunday afternoon at Bayhealth in Milford.
The mandate is under a temporary pause and all of the hospitals say they will follow the proceedings to come closely. It could be put back in place at any point later in time.
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