Topic: Medical Exemptions

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., acting as HHS Secretary, issued a public letter to Germany's Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warkin. The letter protests the prosecution of over 1,000 German physicians who issued mask and vaccine exemptions during the pandemic. Kennedy argues that criminalizing doctors for patient advocacy violates the sacred physician-patient relationship and democratic principles.

In 2022, New York City health officials admit that half of COVID hospitalizations are for patients admitted for other reasons who simply tested positive upon arrival. Despite this, the message remains to "get boosted and mask up." Officials predict a peak in cases and emphasize that the "vast majority" of hospitalized children are unvaccinated, urging continued compliance.

The state of Colorado removed the requirement for healthcare facilities to maintain weekly testing policies for vaccine-exempt employees. Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo is among the first to implement these new guidelines following the state health department's change. Facilities are still expected to follow general infection control and PPE protocols.

The CDC continues to recommend that children as young as two years old wear masks in schools, regardless of vaccination status. In Texas, a sports cameraman reported that doctors are refusing to sign medical exemptions for fear of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) revoking their memberships. Some doctors are instead offering letters confirming the presence of antibodies following natural infection.

United Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to mandate vaccines for all employees, announcing that those with approved religious or medical exemptions will be placed on indefinite unpaid leave. The company stated that customer-facing employees with exemptions will not be allowed in the workplace until the risk of COVID-19 is deemed low enough. This move effectively bypasses the legal requirement for reasonable accommodation.