33 Lawmakers Call For Changes To RI's Health Care Vaccine Mandate

PROVIDENCE, RI — Nearly half of Rhode Island's 75 representatives called for Gov. Dan McKee to change the state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers to allow those without a vaccine to keep their jobs.

In a letter to the governor, the 33 lawmakers criticized the policy, which requires all health care workers at state-licensed facilities to get a vaccine or valid exemption by Oct. 1.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of the last 18 months, those professionals that were society’s first line of defense against the virus—among the many, our nurses, doctors, CNAs, police, fire, emergency personnel—were lauded as 'heroes' and 'saviors' during this historic time of crisis," the statement read in part. "While we strongly urge all adults to get vaccinated, we also believe none of our 'heroes' should be in the unemployment line should they make the personal decision to decline vaccination."

The lawmakers called for McKee to amend the mandate to allow unvaccinated health care workers to keep their jobs, and for the Rhode Island Department of Health to "develop appropriate guidelines for those individuals to retain their employment while maintaining the public health."

Should McKee not take action, the representatives asked House Speaker K Joseph Shekarchi to reconvene the House to "address this extreme and unjust mandate."

During Tuesday's news conference, McKee said that he was in discussions with health care leaders, including the Rhode Island Department of Health.

"I take anybody's input," McKee said of the letter, adding that "we're going to do what's in the best interest of the people of the state of Rhode Island."

Of the 33 representatives, 24 were Democrats and nine Republicans. The only Republican representative to not sign the letter was Cranston's Barbara Fenton-Fung, who is a health care worker.

The representatives were:

• Representative Arthur J. Corvese (D)
• Representative Thomas E. Noret (D)
• Representative Julie A. Casimiro (D)
• Representative Patricia A. Serpa (D)
• Representative Deborah A. Felella (D)
• Representative Charlene Lima (D)
• Representative Gregory J. Costantino (D)
• Representative Steven M. Casey (D)
• Representative Carlos E. Tobon (D)
• Representative Grace Diaz (D)
• Representative Anastasia P. Williams (D)
• Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D)
• Representative Robert D. Phillips (D)
• Representative William W. O’Brien (D)
• Representative Robert E. Craven Sr. (D)
• Representative Edward T. Cardillo Jr. (D)
• Representative Bernard A. Hawkins (D)
• Representative Mary Duffy Messier (D)
• Representative Samuel A. Azzinaro (D)
• Representative Steven J. Lima (D)
• Representative Ramon A. Perez (D)
• Representative James N. McLaughlin (D)
• Representative Nathan W. Biah (D)
• Representative Raymond A. Hull (D)
• Minority Leader Blake A. Filippi (R)
• Representative Brian C. Newberry (R)
• Representative Michael W. Chippendale (R)
• Representative David J. Place (R)
• Representative Robert J. Quattrocchi (R)
• Representative Sherry Roberts (R)
• Representative George A. Nardone (R)
• Representative Patricia L. Morgan (R)
• Representative Justin Price (R)