LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – A group of Gundersen Health System employees took to the streets near the La Crosse campus to protest a mandate requiring all employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The protestors, their family members, and supporters held signs disputing the efficacy and safety of the vaccination, claimed, that Gundersen was taking away their freedoms and that there is no need for them to be vaccinated.
Neither the organizers nor protestors would speak on camera but instead handed out a small card with their talking points.
The card said they are asking Gundersen to either eliminate the mandate or, at the very least, expand the list of exemptions to include one for those who are philosophically opposed to the vaccination.
It went on to insist that they are not anti-vaccine and contends vaccinating healthcare workers will not protect patients because the vaccinations do not prevent the spread of the virus.
In advance of the protest, Gundersen officials released a statement in which they praised the workers for their hard work during the pandemic and that they are requiring the vaccination to protect the employees from the virus.
They went on to say their policy is in line with those of local, regional, and national healthcare associations and that the coronavirus vaccination is just one of a number of vaccinations required for employment at Gundersen.
To date, about 85-percent of all Gundersen employees have been vaccinated.
Employees have until November 1 to be vaccinated or face possible termination.
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