Some healthcare workers at Ascension St. John said they're looking for new jobs after they said they were not allowed to opt out of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. <\/p>\n
In July, Ascension said it would require all employees get a vaccine by November or people would lose their jobs.<\/p>\n
Many nurses and healthcare workers contacted News on 6, saying their exemption requests were denied and they feel they have no choice but to leave.<\/p>\n
\"I love helping people,\" said Rachael Parker. \"I'm a people advocate.\" <\/p>\n
That's why Parker went into nursing nearly 30 years ago. She was an ICU nurse for several years and most recently the stroke coordinator at Ascension Saint John.<\/p>\n
\"COVID is bad, I've been a patient myself,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Ascension told all employees they must be fully vaccinated by November 12.<\/p>\n
Parker said she has had two terrible reactions to vaccines in the past including kidney failure, so she requested a medical exemption.<\/p>\n
\"I have health issues that make me question taking the vaccine,\" she said. \"I'm not negating it for anyone else.\"<\/p>\n
Parker said it was denied, so she had no option but to quit.<\/p>\n
\"I had a lot of Ascension employees reach out to me,\" said Jeremy Strang.<\/p>\n
Strang said he's also worked in healthcare for 30 years and helped many nurses request faith-based exemptions for the vaccine.<\/p>\n
\"I've done faith-based exceptions for 15 years from the flu vaccine,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several St. John nurses said their religious requests were denied and the company's response was they would cause \"undue hardship to the organization\" and \"increased risk.\"<\/p>\n
These nurses said it's a slap in the face after a year and a half on the frontlines and said patients are the ones who will truly suffer. <\/p>\n
\"This vaccine is never going to be a one size fits all,\" Parker said.<\/p>\n
Ascension and Ascension St. John didn't respond to a media request before 4:30 p.m. Thursday. <\/p>\n
Oklahoma's Attorney General said Thursday there is no rule currently in place that requires employers to mandate the vaccine. He said if a federal rule does go into place, his office will ask for an injunction.<\/p>\n
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Some Tulsa Healthcare Workers Quit Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate - News On 6<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some healthcare workers at Ascension St. Continue reading