Medical Exemption Controversy After COVID Vaccine Mandate

As the Biden administration continues to urge workers across the nation to get vaccinated against COVID-19, more and more employees are looking for loopholes. Currently, one of the most debated topics surrounding Biden’s sweeping vaccine mandate are religious and medical exemptions.

Just last week, the Connecticut Medical Examining Board suspended Doctor Sue McIntosh’s license after an investigation revealed she was mailing fake coronavirus vaccine and mask exemption forms to people who simply reached out and followed her instructions. 

Connecticut’s Medical Examining Board suspended her license in a unanimous decision, according to a release from the state’s health department. The investigation also revealed that McIntosh told people they could copy and distribute the signed forms.

With so many cities, companies and organizations now requiring COVID vaccinations, medical exemptions are becoming one of the few ways around it. In response, federal law requires employers to engage in the interactive process and to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with qualifying medical conditions. However, this can be a tough hurdle for employees to overcome. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the only people who shouldn’t get vaccinated are those who had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) immediately following their first dose of the vaccine. “The only real exemption I can imagine is severe allergic reaction mainly in the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, but they are very, very rare — like one in a million,” said infectious disease physician Dr. Peter Chin-Hong to CBS Money Watch.

For those who’ve experienced less severe allergic reactions, experts recommend visiting an allergist who can pinpoint exactly which ingredient your body can’t tolerate. From there, they can make further recommendations as to the best COVID-19 vaccine for you.

Experienced Employment Law Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Investigator, Legal and Media Commentator 

Twice-named a U.S. News Best Lawyer in America for employment and labor law, Angela Reddock-Wright is an employment and labor law attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and certified workplace and Title IX investigator (AWI-CH) in Los Angeles, CA. Known as the “Workplace Guru,” Angela is an influencer and leading authority on employment, workplace/HR, Title IX, hazing, and bullying issues.

Angela is a regular legal and media commentator and analyst and has appeared on such media outlets as Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Law and Crime with Brian Ross, Court TV, CNN, NewsNation, ABC News, CBS News, Fox 11 News, KTLA-5, the Black News Channel, Fox Soul – The Black Report, NPR, KPCC, Airtalk-89.3, KJLH Front Page with Dominique DiPrima, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Forbes.com, Yahoo! Entertainment, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Focus, Daily Journal, Our Weekly and the Wave Newspapers.

Angela is a member of the panel of distinguished mediators and arbitrators with Judicate West, a California dispute resolution company.  She also owns her own dispute resolution law firm, the Reddock Law Group of Los Angeles, specializing in the mediation, arbitration, and investigation of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace claims, along with Title IX, sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct conduct cases, along with hazing and bullying cases in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, fraternities and sororities; fire, police and other public safety agencies and departments; and other private and public sector workplaces.

For more information regarding resources for employers, businesses, and employees during this time, connect with her on LinkedIn for new updates, or contact her here. You may also follow her on Instagram.

This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.

 

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