Support for Vaccine Medical Waiver Rights

Dear Supporters,

We have an opportunity to make a change. My name is Amanda Cox. I had taken the flu shot, as I was told my work required it. I experienced increasing reactions each time I was vaccinated. My medical doctor had suggested due to the increasing nature of my reactions that I use a medical waiver. The hospital I worked for accepted the waiver for several years; but, not this year. As a result, and without warning, I was terminated. I have decided to be an advocate for vaccine choice for healthcare workers and parents’ rights. I contacted Michigan for Vaccine Choice and was directed to their Attorney Mike Ross. Mr. Ross feels I have a very strong case and so does Attorney Joel Dorfman who sits on the Board of Michigan for Vaccine Choice. My case could cost as much as $10,000 depending on push back from the hospital. It could also be helpful to setting precedent for choice. I never thought the day would come when a medical waiver would not be good enough? The Michigan Department of Civil Rights has accepted my complaint and the investigation process has started. I have set up this donation page in order to raise the money to keep our right to decide what goes in our body. It is the small victories that will add up and I believe this could be one of them. I would appreciate your help via donation. ANY DONATIONS NOT UTILIZED FOR MY COURT CASE WILL BE PASSED ON TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN A CASE SIMILAR TO MY OWN, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE SMALL BATTLE VICTORIES.

The details of the circumstances are listed below:

I recently lost my job as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Prime Health Care, Lake Huron Medical Center, in Port Huron, MI. I had been an exemplary employee for 8 years. My physician advised me several years ago that I should not take the influenza vaccine due to the increasing physical reactions I have had in the past after receiving the vaccine. I had a letter on file since 2014 with the hospital named above. I was told each year, when I would go to Employee Health, no new waiver form or physician letter was necessary. I was told several years in a row that I would NEVER need another letter due to my physician stating I was allergic in 2014. This year, on my own accord, I asked if there were any Employee Health items for me to complete. I was told I would need a flu shot. I stated what I had been told for many years and asked for the paperwork to proceed with a waiver form. They did not get this to me for 2 weeks, after I requested them approximately 7 times, even giving my personal email address and home phone number. Finally, after receiving the documents and meeting immediately with the Infection Control nurse, she contentiously stated she would accept the letter and waiver this year, but next year I would have to have a new one...and that I would need to wear a mask, which I agreed to. One week after meeting with the Infection Control Nurse, I was taken off the schedule for non-compliance with the influenza vaccine. HR asked for a meeting with me to "discuss the influenza policy". I asked for an agenda of the meeting, a copy of the influenza policy for my review and to record the meeting. All were denied. When I arrived, I was promptly fired with no warnings, or bad reviews within my 8 years. I would like to use my unique position to advocate for vaccine rights not only in the healthcare field, but for our families as well. CHOICE MATTERS. All donations are greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your support for Vaccine choice.

Amanda Cox CNMT, RT(N)