Mass. Vaccine Mandate Still Costing Troopers Their Jobs
By Joe Dwinell
Source Boston Herald
The state troopers' union is trying to save the jobs of seven officers kicked off the force for not being vaccinated, with Boston College also cracking down on its booster mandate.
The State Police Association of Massachusetts posted to Instagram Thursday they are seeking a court injunction in Suffolk Superior Court to block the dismissals.
"The Association believes this is wrong, and we hope the court will consider this case in an expeditious and favorable manner," the post states. "These Troopers were granted a religious exemption but were terminated anyway."
BC also confirmed a professor at the school has left — they say he retired, he says he was forced out — for not getting a booster shot.
"I loved the place but this mandate is Draconian and ill-thought-out," said George O'Har, who taught English and writing at BC. "Everyone is running away from the booster mandate ... but my real concern is for the kids."
He says some students at BC are petitioning the college to drop the booster mandate, adding he did get the J&J vaccine and came back on campus when others didn't to help the students who wanted to be back in the classroom.
BC spokesman Jack Dunn told the Herald Thursday the college "informed all members of the BC community who intended to be on-campus for the spring semester that they needed to receive a COVID-19 booster shot and 100% of those eligible to receive the shot complied. These requirements have enabled us to experience as normal a semester as possible."
As mandates begin to fall along with infection rates, private and public agencies are still sticking to vaccine requirements. The NFL isn't along with the PGA.
Dr. Todd Ellerin, head of infectious diseases at South Shore Hospital, said dropping mask mandates now makes sense, but he says getting the vaccine is still smart.
"There are still almost 2,000 people dying a day in the U.S.," Ellerin said, adding the country could hit 1 million dead from COIVD by the end of the month. "Mandates are an important public health tool to use when you have a patchwork of individual responses."
Ellerin said the virus doesn't care about politics, it could be around for years to come and he sees hope in the future.
"We can peel back mandates as things improve," he told the Herald.
What happens this summer and next fall and winter will be key. So, too, will be how the virus plays out around the world.
Ellerin pointed out it's been two years since the pandemic hit and sent thousands flooding into hospitals.
"This terrorized the world," he added. "You mask for the present, you vaccinate for the future."
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