TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Health care workers from all around the state traveled to Tallahassee on Tuesday to protest vaccine mandates.
What You Need To Know
- The session, which could last all week, continued Tuesday in Tallahassee
- More than 200 health care workers made their voices against the vaccine heard
- Democrats tried to pass an exemption Tuesday for hospitals, but it failed
- PREVIOUS STORY: Medical freedom or political stunt? At Special Session, it depends on who you ask
Inside the Capitol, Republican lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation to make businesses provide opt outs for vaccine requirements. That includes hospitals.
Roughly 200 health care workers made their voices heard, saying they served on the front lines during the pandemic and most of them got COVID for refusing the vaccine.
Christopher Helenthale listened to fellow health care workers tell their stories at the demonstration. He has his own story.
“I volunteered to work directly with COVID patients from the very beginning,” he said. “I did so so other people wouldn’t have to.”
Like many others in the crowd, Helenthale tried to save as many COVID patients as he could from the very start of the pandemic.
“I started when it wasn’t convenient, didn’t have vaccines, didn’t have a correct PPE, and it was thought to be a death sentence at the time,” he said.
He got COVID, recovered and went right back to work.
“They allowed me to treat COVID patients until Friday when they suspended me, and will eventually be terminated (for refusing the vaccine),” he said.
Another doctor at the rally asked, “Is the Food and Drug administration your doctor? Is Anthony Fauci your doctor? Is Big Bird your doctor? I am your doctor. We are your physicians. Fight for us, and we will fight for you.”
Inside, Spectrum News spoke with the Senate President about health care workers.
“So now today, out of political action, we are saying, 'Thank you for getting us through the crisis. Thank you for putting your family at risk,'” said Republican Wilton Simpson. “Now we’re going to require you to have a vaccine or you’re going to lose your job and your ability to keep that family. And I think it’s wrong today, I think it’s wrong tomorrow, and I think it’s wrong anytime during the last 18 months.”
Florida would be the first to do something like this — requiring opt-outs for businesses. We asked Simpson what message he thinks that sends to the country.
“I think it says that Florida stands for freedom,” he said. “And I think other states, you’re going to be seeing a lot of special sessions around this country doing the same things.”
Democrats tried to pass an exemption Tuesday for hospitals, saying Republicans are putting hospitals in an impossible position — basically a tug-of-war between the federal government and the state. Democrats were not successful in getting that exemption.
The house is expected to vote and wrap up its special session tomorrow. The four bills then head to the Senate. The session could wrap up late Wednesday or Thursday.
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