Jan. 19, 2022
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) to provide workers who possess natural immunity from COVID-19 to be exempt from employer vaccine mandates was unveiled yesterday through a letter to members of the House of Representatives.
Under the proposal, employees and prospective employees could be exempted from an employer-required COVID-19 vaccine if they can provide documentation showing proof of an infection or lab results showing they possess COVID-19 antibodies. The exemption would last 90 days from the date of testing.
“My office has received numerous calls from constituents who have recovered from COVID-19, possess the antibodies and are afraid they may lose their jobs. This is unacceptable,” Nelson said. “If the goal of the vaccine is to generate antibodies, workers who have them are already meeting that goal and should not be fired over not getting a mandated shot.”
Employees and prospective employees who are initially granted an exemption under the bill, but are unable to prove continued natural immunity, will have 30 days to seek a religious and/or medical exemption or comply with an employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
“Many of these individuals worked tirelessly through the heart of the pandemic, before a vaccine ever existed,” Nelson said. “An employee should have the right to decline if they have the antibodies.”
The proposal has been distributed to House members through a
memorandum seeking their support as a co-sponsor. In the future, the bill will be formally introduced and assigned a bill number by Pennsylvania’s Legislative Reference Bureau.
The 57th Legislative District includes the following Westmoreland County communities: the city of Greensburg; the townships of Hempfield (part) and Salem; and the boroughs of Delmont, Hunker, New Stanton, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and Youngwood.
Representative Eric Nelson
57th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
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