Rep. Bennett, 37 other lawmakers urge Mayo Clinic to drop vaccine mandate

(ABC 6 News) – Albert Lea Representative Peggy Bennett and 37 other state lawmakers are urging Mayo Clinic to end its COVID vaccine mandates for employees.

“To be clear, none of us are opposed to vaccines,” Bennett said. “But most of these frontline workers willingly sacrificed and stepped-up last year, exposing themselves and their families to a then-unknown virus without any protection of a vaccine. Many were sickened by the virus and now have natural immunity. Mayo is no longer under any obligation to enforce a vaccine mandate on its staff, and we are urging them to give its staff the freedom to decide if they want to receive the shot.”

RELATED: Rep. Bennett in-depth on letter urging Mayo Clinic to drop vaccine mandate

The 38 lawmakers sent a letter to Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia following the Biden administration’s decision to back away from vaccine mandates for facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid.

The court order said that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid had no clear authority from Congress to enact the vaccine mandate for providers participating in the two government health care programs for the elderly, disabled and poor.

RELATED: Mayo Clinic extends time for employees to meet vaccine mandate

Mayo Clinic has stated that all employees are required to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the Jan. 3 deadline or risk being terminated.

Bennett says the Mayo Clinic has the chance to do the right thing by finding a workable solution with its employees who, due to any number of reasons, may not want the vaccine.

“Multiple new studies from places like the United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany – and even the CDC itself – show that this is a ‘leaky’ vaccine that allows the vaccinated to become infected and transmit the virus equal to the unvaccinated,” Bennett said. “If the Covid vaccine was a sterilizing vaccine such as those for mumps, measles, and polio, the argument could be made that staff who receive it would be protecting patients. But if everyone can pass the Covid virus along, including the vaccinated, what is the purpose of forcing the vaccine?”

To view Bennett’s full letter to Mayo Clinic, click here.