Macon Reporter

A court ruled in favor of health care workers who felt having to get vaccinated against COVID-19 “discriminated against and denied religious exemptions.”

“Hopefully, more suits of this kind will follow,” Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) wrote on Facebook. “In an important ruling, 500 health care workers in Illinois have won a huge $10.3 million victory against North Shore University Health System for unlawfully discriminating against them by denying their religious exemptions from the (coronavirus) shot mandate.”

According to an article on the American Medical Association's webpage (AMA), Dr. Arthur Caplan, head of the medical ethics division at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said the mistrust of the vaccine among health care workers stems from misinformation about vaccines spreading on the internet.

“It’s understandable that they’re concerned,” Caplan said. “They say, ‘These vaccines have not been tested adequately on pregnant women.’ Still, we know it’s better to get vaccinated against viral diseases when you’re pregnant than not because [viruses] can harm the fetus.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center said people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now or in the future can get vaccinated against coronavirus.

In his Facebook post, Halbrook shared a link to a Western Journal article about the case. Western Journal noted that NorthShore University Health System will pay $10.3 million as a result of this lawsuit.

While the settlement still has to be approved by the Federal District Court, Liberty Counsel's statement says those who were denied religious exemptions will have the opportunity to opt-out of the settlement or submit a claim form. North Shore will be required to change its policy that includes no religious accommodations, and employees who were fired because they objected to the COVID-19 vaccination for religious reasons will have an opportunity to be rehired.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported approximately 3 million cases of coronavirus. 

The Chicago Tribune reported that the case started with 14 workers, including nurses, pharmacy technicians and others, who filed a lawsuit in October 2021. The proposed settlement was filed on July 29.