Nurse from Sant Vicenç frustrated by co-workers protesting against the mandate of the hospital vaccine

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Private companies that require vaccinating people are a topic that is being debated across the country. Now it’s a debate that has taken to the streets in Jacksonville.

Dozens of health workers at Ascension St. Vincent held a demonstration at Riverside Hospital on Friday evening. They oppose a vaccination warrant that they must fulfill before November in order to work in the hospital.

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One protester had a sign that said “Don’t fire our heroes” while others waved American flags.

Many protesters said they are not against the vaccine, they simply do not want to be forced to take it.

“I had it, I recovered. I have natural immunity. You can’t make that decision just because you’re my employer. I’m sorry, “said a Sant Vicenç employee who did not want to be identified. “When someone tells you hey, you have to get the vaccine, it’s like telling me what to put on my body and I won’t.”

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Even if it means finding a new job.

“I have served the public. I have served this population only COVID for a year and a half and, if it forces me and I do not have the exemption, I will find another career after 20 years of doing this “, said the employee.

But other hospital employees told News4Jax that they expected members of the group to change their minds.

Like other Jacksonville hospitals, Ascension St. Vincent is seeing his number of patients with COVID-19 fall from its peak in recent weeks, but he remains very busy.

Rita Lenahan has been a nurse for almost 40 years with experience in critical care. He said the latest increase has been tough for health workers. And while she’s vaccinated, she’s worried about some of those co-workers who aren’t.

“You don’t need politics, just look at what’s going on in the hospital, for you it will open your eyes,” Lenahan said. “I think we have become such an authorized society that no one will tell us what to do even if it is for our own good. They just want to make the decision, but when some make the decision it’s too late and I hope they don’t lose their lives because they made the wrong decision too late. “

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Ascension St Vincent’s released a statement on Friday about employees’ concerns about vaccines:

“We respect the right of our partners to peacefully express their views on the COVID-19 vaccine in a manner that complies with our policies and shows respect for our patients, visitors, providers and other partners. We must do more to help overcome this highly contagious virus. Like many health systems across the country, Ascension is deciding that our partners will be vaccinated against COVID-19 on November 12, 2021. “

St. Vincent said the deadline goes along with the requirement for the flu vaccine that has been in place for many years.

For Lenahan, going through this pandemic is bad enough, but she is worried about the weight her profession is taking on.

“It simply came to our notice then. In the 37 years I have been in nursing with critical care training to see the number of patients and the load the staff has. Not just doctors, but nurses, ”he said. “This patient often passes by, the only person they see before they die is the nurse who takes them by the hand. And I really feel that we will have a crisis in nursing and other medical professions with PTSD because we have to go through it ”.

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Many of the protesters outside the hospital did not want to speak to News4Jax on Friday, but a member of the group issued a statement:

“We are fighting for our freedom to accept or deny medical intervention. Working with Ascension will not deprive you of your constitutional rights; everyone deserves bodily autonomy. There is more than one way to protect ourselves and others. Part of informed consent is knowing the alternative options, we are simply choosing a different path.This mandate is not only unconstitutional, but directly violates the National Catholic Bioethics Center, where our CEO, Joe Impicciche, is a board member. How can an organization claim to be a “Catholic Ministry of Health” while blatantly engaging in hypocrisy, manipulation, and coercion? This is wrong. “.