The Dreaded Vaccine Mandate Has Come To My Company - Need Suggestions on Exemption Letter

[SamAdams76]

I can retire but I'm still too young to retire. Still 8 years away from FRA on Social Security, still months away from being able to tap into my 401k without penalty. But all my retirement planning has centered around retiring in my mid 60s - not the young age of 59!

So still got 5-10 years in the tank so far as my career is concerned. I'm at the top of my game and at my top earning potential. So I'd hate to give up over a million dollars in future earnings all because of some silly government mandate for a vaccine that I absolutely do not need and do not believe in.

So I'm asking for Freeper help in contructing a letter asking for an exemption to this absolutely insane and unwarranted mandate.

According to the edict put out by my company, all employees must be vaccinated by mid-December or face termination of employment. There are two possible paths for exemption: Medical and Religious.

A medical exemption is out of the question because I have been in perfect health my entire life. Not even a prescription other than a 2-week antibiotic I was given for a sinus infection back in the 1990s. Decades before COVID, I was taking vitamins C, D3 and zinc daily. For the past 20 years, I've been eating almost nothing but natural foods, recently adding raw honeycomb to my diet (to put in my whole-fat yogurt).

Over 30 years at this company and not a single sick day! I have probably the most perfect immune system one could want for. So why would I want to take a vaccine that I don't need and that might compromise that immune system?

I respect the decisions of those who decided to get the vaccines, everybody's situation is different, but I feel that I do not need it for myself and that it could only do me harm.

So my only option here is to seek a religious exemption.

Now I've been a lifelong Christian but I wish I could say I'm a perfect Christian, going to church every Sunday and Bible Study on Wednesday nights. But I skip church way more than I go to it. Mainly because I see the clergy as flawed human beings like myself. For example, during this pandemic, they have had a mask mandate at the church my wife and I belong to and the pastor himself has encouraged his congregation to take the vaccine. So cannot abide by that and cannot ask my pastor to sponsor me in my religious exemption request.

But that is the only avenue I have and I owe the Human Resources a letter stating my desire for a religious exemption. Otherwise, I need to either get the vaccine or face termination of employment less than two months from now. Unless I can obtain an exemption on religious grounds.

I only have one shot at this and so I need to get my ducks in a row. I don't want to be disingenuous. I don't want to cut and paste conspiracy stuff from the Internet. I don't want to pretend to be something I am not. However, I believe there are reasonable objections for even a semi-practicing Christian such as mywelf to make a good case for being exempted from these "vaccinations."

Such as fetus cells being used in either the production or development of these vaccines (my wife and I are ardently pro-Life). But I'm hearing this line of argument could potentially be challenged by HR as many other over the counter medications like cough medicine and Tylenol have fetal cells. Both of which I have taken in the past but certainly not on even a regular basis. In fact, it's been at least a decade since I took either.

So I'm looking for a cogent argument against this vaccine that will pass muster with my HR and Legal Department - on religious grounds. As I'm sure they will need to justify their exemption to the jackboot government.

Now I'm not simply an employee at this company but at the executive level. So I need to come at this from the angle of supporting the company's policies overall while seeking an exemption for myself. A bit of an awkward situation.

I plan to take the tack of not outright refusing to take a vaccine but simply not taking it at this time until certain concerns of mine are resolved. Such as waiting for more time to pass to gauge the long-term effect, waiting for a vaccine that did not have fetal cells in either its development or its production, or until such time my personal medical situation warrants it.

Anyway, I know there are some great minds on Free Republic so would like to pick your brains on this. That said, I also know I'm opening myself up here to inane and insane comments from other Freepers. Which is all fine with me. Just looking for some input and I feel that other Freepers are or will be soon in the same type of situation I find myself in.

Lastly, my company is between a rock and a hard place. They never wanted to mandate their employees but their hand is forced because 40% of our revenues derive from public sector contracts - such as military, government agencies and schools.

My goal here is to get an exemption so that my company can say they are in compliance. Otherwise, it's time to get out of the rat race and spend the rest of my life reading books and taking nature walks - which I guess I'll be okay with - but I'm sure I'll have regrets later.

[kosciusko51]

Sorry, I should have been more clear.

There are only 3 vaxxes you can get in the US that meet the DOD requirements.

[WASCWatch]

In many situations, corporate management wants to downsize the number of people on the payroll, yet that does not apply to the hiring of consultants.

[SamAdams76]

Again, thank you all for responding to this thread.

My request for a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate was accepted by my HR Department today!

I was not sure what the outcome would be and was already bracing myself for the possibility of finding myself involuntarily retired early and unemployed for the first time in nearly five decades! But I got a stay of execution, so to speak.

My company will be in touch with me later on what hoops I need to jump through now that I have been granted an accommodation. Probably social distancing at the office, mask wearing and COVID-testing as needed. But I am very thankful for the accommodation as I was simply not prepared to get these shots!

I sure hope all this nonsense ends soon but in the meantime, I'll take victories where I can get them.

[PrincessB]

Thank you for this one. I have it saved. I don’t need my pastor (who I think would support) sign off on anything?