Trinitas Nursing Students Ordered To Get COVID Vaccine: Report

ELIZABETH, NJ — Students at Trinitas Medical Center's School of Nursing in Elizabeth have started a petition after being told they must get the COVID-19 vaccine before their courses start on Jan. 25, News 12 reported Tuesday. They said that even doctors and nurses who work at the hospital aren't required to take it, according to the report.

A letter from dean Dr. Roseminda Santa said, "Students who choose not to take the vaccine for any reason must withdraw from the course before classes start on Jan. 25," according to the report.

A hospital spokesperson responded that they are encouraging all employees to get the vaccine and may soon require it. People responding to a News 12 poll on Twitter were 43 percent in favor of the vaccine being mandatory for the nursing students, and 57 percent against. More than 1,000 people responded.

Check here for a list of Union County vaccination sites open to the public.

By Tuesday, the American death toll due to coronavirus was expected to surpass 400,000 lives.

According to Patch numbers, 27 percent more New Jersey residents died in 2020 than in 2019 or 2018, and deaths rose by 44.5 percent in Union County from 2019 to 2020. Click to see the story here.

On Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy said that the state was waiting for more vaccines from the federal government, and addressed by smokers were being prioritized for eligibility before teachers.

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