VIDEO: Reporter, unhappy with vaccine exemptions, complains to Mayor Bowser.
Bowser: "I just can't rule out, at this stage in the game, a claim of religious exemption…They will definitely be reviewed vigorously." [43:00]
"Of the 475 religious exemption requests for the COVID-19 vaccine so far filed with D.C., the vast majority, 419, have come from those in fire and EMS, according to City Administrator Kevin Donahue. “None have been denied thus far,” Donahue said. “They’re all going under the deliberation and scrutiny that are required under federal law.” D.C. has ordered that all licensed health care workers, including firefighters, must get at least one dose of the vaccine by Sept. 30 or risk losing their licenses and possibly their jobs. Donahue said any punitive action probably wouldn’t take place until October. He added that the aim is to get people vaccinated, “not to punish. By design, suspensions would not take effect until after employees have had a couple of weeks to be reminded of their obligations. So the initial interaction between the employer and an employee who has not complied is a reminder and then a conference.”
On Monday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered that all city school workers will need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus by November. The requirement includes public and private schools, as well as day care staff, bus drivers, security staff and coaches. In addition, student-athletes 12 and older also have to be vaccinated by Nov. 1."
https://wtop.com/dc/2021/09/hundreds-of-dc-fire-and-ems-workers-file-for-covid-vaccination-exemption/