Soldiers Who Refuse Covid Shots Now Being Discharged By Army
An AP report says this places over 3,300 service members at risk of being discharged. Other news on mandates includes a judge ruling in favor of Hawaiian Airlines' worker vaccine policy, 200 Santa Clara County unvaxxed workers being disciplined, and more.
AP:
Army To Immediately Start Discharging Vaccine Refusers
The Army said Wednesday it will immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon. The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any. (Baldor, 2/2)
In other vaccine mandate news —
AP:
Judge Rules In Favor Of Hawaiian Airlines Vaccine Policy
A U.S. judge on Wednesday denied an attempt by seven employees to block Hawaiian Airlines’ policy requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or face termination. The airline required U.S.-based employees to receive full doses of a vaccine by Nov. 1, while allowing employees to request accommodations based on disabilities or religious beliefs. (Kelleher, 2/3)
Bay Area News Group:
COVID: 200 Santa Clara County Workers Disciplined Over Booster Mandate
About 200 Santa Clara County employees are being disciplined for not following a stringent health order that mandates workers in high-risk settings like jails and hospitals to receive a booster shot or a first round of vaccination by Feb. 1 — or risk their jobs. The affected departments include 171 healthcare workers, 22 correctional deputies and 16 probation staff members, according to figures provided by the county, which represents slightly less than 2% of a workforce of around 12,000 who were under the health order. The county fire department’s administration, who had a couple dozen employees that are were trying to avoid the booster shot, said that they expect a total of seven firefighters to be removed from their positions out of a total workforce of 220 people. (Greschler, 2/2)
AP:
NC Panel Rejects Vaccine Mandate For High School Seniors
A North Carolina state health panel declined on Wednesday to require high school seniors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a decision that aligns with the wishes of Gov. Roy Cooper and other state health leaders who’ve said such a mandate was premature. The North Carolina Commission for Public Health voted unanimously against a formal petition from four University of North Carolina system professors to add the vaccine to state immunization requirements for those who are 17 years old or entering 12th grade as of July 1, news outlets reported. (2/2)
In related news —
Salt Lake Tribune:
Gov. Cox Signs Bill Giving Utah Legislative Leaders Control Over Individual School Closings For COVID
Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill Wednesday that has raised concerns about government overreach by granting legislative leaders the power to sign off on individual school closings due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The measure, HB183, has drawn pushback from teachers and district administrators, as well as prominent attorneys in the state. They say it impedes a school’s ability to react quickly to a surge in virus cases, takes away their local authority and potentially violates the Utah Constitution. (Tanner, 2/2)
