After US Vaccine Mandate, Workers Rush for Religious Exemptions
2021-09-24
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1U.S. President Joe Biden announced new rules on September 9 that require certain people to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
2One part of the announcement said businesses that employ 100 people or more must ask their employees to get vaccinated or require them to show a negative virus test once per week.
3The rules will affect about 100 million Americans.
4However, Biden also said people may choose not to be vaccinated due to their religious beliefs.
5This is known as a religious exemption.
6In the days following Biden's announcement, many people began claiming that religious exemption.
7In Los Angeles, about 2,600 police department employees are claiming the exemption.
8In the state of Washington in America's northwest, thousands of people who work for the state government are also claiming the exemption.
9In Arkansas, so many employees of a hospital are claiming the exemption that the hospital says they are "bluffing."
10In the past, not many people used religious beliefs as a reason to avoid vaccinations.
11But the COVID-19 pandemic is different.
12Even though the vaccines are safe, protective and widely available in the U.S., many people do not want to get them.
13Now people are claiming the religious exemption.
14Many religious leaders do not object to the vaccines.
15There has been some concern, however, over the cell-line used by the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
16The Janssen vaccine uses cells grown in a lab that came from a fetus in 1985.
17Johnson and Johnson has said repeatedly there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine.
18The Catholic church said it is "morally acceptable" for Catholics to receive vaccines that come from fetal cell research.
19Pope Francis said not getting a vaccine would be "suicide."
20He received the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech.
21The White House said it understands people may use religion as a reason to refuse the vaccine.
22However, it argues, if the new rule makes more people say yes, it will save lives.
23In the first part of September, about 1,000 people died each day in the United States from COVID-19.
24In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "we will not tolerate the abuse of these exemptions by those who simply don't want to get vaccinated."
25People who work for the city must be vaccinated by October 5.
26A group of police employees who do not want the vaccine is taking legal action.
27In the state of Washington, Governor Jay Inslee said state employees may lose their jobs if they are not vaccinated by October 18, unless they receive an exemption.
28However, receiving an exemption does not guarantee people will stay employed.
29The state will decide if people who are not vaccinated can still do their job without putting others at risk.
30Other large employers in the U.S., including United Airlines, said people who get an exemption will not be permitted to work until new COVID-19 testing plans are put into effect.
31Jackson Lahmeyer is the leader of a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
32He is offering a "religious exemption" form on his church's website.
33In only three days, more than 35,000 people downloaded the form.
34They can bring it to their own religious leaders or,
35if they join the church in Oklahoma and donate money, Lahmeyer will sign it.
36"We're not anti-vaxxers. We're just pro-freedom," Lahmeyer said.
37He added that he does not think it is right for someone to lose their job if they do not want the vaccine.
38I'm Dan Friedell.
1U.S. President Joe Biden announced new rules on September 9 that require certain people to get a COVID-19 vaccination. One part of the announcement said businesses that employ 100 people or more must ask their employees to get vaccinated or require them to show a negative virus test once per week. 2The rules will affect about 100 million Americans. 3However, Biden also said people may choose not to be vaccinated due to their religious beliefs. This is known as a religious exemption. 4In the days following Biden's announcement, many people began claiming that religious exemption. In Los Angeles, about 2,600 police department employees are claiming the exemption. In the state of Washington in America's northwest, thousands of people who work for the state government are also claiming the exemption. 5In Arkansas, so many employees of a hospital are claiming the exemption that the hospital says they are "bluffing." 6In the past, not many people used religious beliefs as a reason to avoid vaccinations. But the COVID-19 pandemic is different. Even though the vaccines are safe, protective and widely available in the U.S., many people do not want to get them. Now people are claiming the religious exemption. 7Many religious leaders do not object to the vaccines. 8There has been some concern, however, over the cell-line used by the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The Janssen vaccine uses cells grown in a lab that came from a fetus in 1985. Johnson and Johnson has said repeatedly there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine. 9The Catholic church said it is "morally acceptable" for Catholics to receive vaccines that come from fetal cell research. Pope Francis said not getting a vaccine would be "suicide." He received the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. 10The White House said it understands people may use religion as a reason to refuse the vaccine. However, it argues, if the new rule makes more people say yes, it will save lives. 11In the first part of September, about 1,000 people died each day in the United States from COVID-19. 12In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "we will not tolerate the abuse of these exemptions by those who simply don't want to get vaccinated." People who work for the city must be vaccinated by October 5. A group of police employees who do not want the vaccine is taking legal action. 13In the state of Washington, Governor Jay Inslee said state employees may lose their jobs if they are not vaccinated by October 18, unless they receive an exemption. However, receiving an exemption does not guarantee people will stay employed. 14The state will decide if people who are not vaccinated can still do their job without putting others at risk. 15Other large employers in the U.S., including United Airlines, said people who get an exemption will not be permitted to work until new COVID-19 testing plans are put into effect. 16Jackson Lahmeyer is the leader of a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is offering a "religious exemption" form on his church's website. In only three days, more than 35,000 people downloaded the form. They can bring it to their own religious leaders or, if they join the church in Oklahoma and donate money, Lahmeyer will sign it. 17"We're not anti-vaxxers. We're just pro-freedom," Lahmeyer said. He added that he does not think it is right for someone to lose their job if they do not want the vaccine. 18I'm Dan Friedell. 19Colleen Long and Andrew DeMillo wrote this story for the Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 20Do you think people who go without the vaccine should be able to keep working? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 21___________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23negative -adj. not showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance 24tolerate -v. to allow (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) to exist, happen, or be done 25exemption -n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do - usually + from 26bluff -v. a false threat or claim that is meant to get someone to do something