Workshop Promotes Religious Exemptions To Vaccine Order: Report

GIG HARBOR, WA — A Gig Harbor-based faith organization is pushing back against the recent vaccine orders requiring teachers, state employees, firefighters and more to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new report from the News Tribune.

As the News Tribune reports, nonprofit organization One Washington has launched a number of workshops in churches across Washington and Oregon, promoting the use of religious exemptions to skirt the state's vaccine orders.

Under Inslee's orders, applicable employees have until Oct. 18 to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In his initial vaccine order announcement, the governor explained that there would be "limited exemptions" to the mandate, and that those seeking an exemption would need to apply for it.

"Someone with legitimate medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs for not getting the vaccine can make applications," Inslee said. "These exemptions do not include personal or philosophical exemptions."

According to the Tribune, recent workshops in Puyallup and Gig Harbor offered step-by-step instructions on filing for those religious exemptions. Attendees were told to refuse interviews with their employer, request questions in writing and recording any vaccine-related interviews.

Notably, the workshops also flaunted the local mask order, specifically telling visitors at the door that masking was not required indoors. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the state government have issued mask orders asking everyone five years old and older to wear a facial covering in public spaces in order to protect public health.

As for if the workshops will help people avoid vaccination, the jury is still out. As the Tribune reports, the state has set safeguards in place to stop people from using disingenuous religious claims to avoid vaccination, and employers are forbidden from giving exemptions if they know the request was made on false, misleading or dishonest grounds.

>> Read the full report from the News Tribune.