Written by: Natalia Perez
Staff members outside Rady Children’s Hospital held a rally Friday as hospitals across the state are set to lose hundreds of its unvaccinated workforce due to Gavin Newsom’s statewide vaccine mandate for health care workers. Those who attended the rally are demanding for freedom of choice as they are defying the statewide mandate to get fully vaccinated.
Nurse Alicia Fergoso stated that “It’s important because medical freedoms are important in society, freedom in general, it’s part of being an American.” Rady Children’s received 201 requests for exemptions from the vaccine, such as through medical and religious purposes, however, all of them were denied.
The hospital simply said that they are following the state’s order, and that they will not sway from their decision due to the state’s pressure to enforce their vaccine mandates. This now leaves 201 people, and many more from other hospitals, without a job or any source of income. The hospital says unvaccinated staff will have the option to work in a role that doesn’t involve direct patient care, in what seems like a mere consolation prize for all their hard work throughout the pandemic.
