The Mayo Clinic, the top-ranked medical facility in the US, is facing allegations that it violated the religious rights of five employees who were fired for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
A district court initially dismissed the workers’ complaint, stating that their objections to the mandate were not grounded in sincere Christian beliefs.
However, an appeals court has now ruled that the case deserves further review. The panel of judges emphasized that religious beliefs do not have to be uniform or acceptable to others.
The Mayo Clinic has stated that it will vigorously defend its actions, highlighting that it established the vaccine program to protect the health and safety of its staff, patients, and communities.
Other healthcare providers, including Catholic healthcare system Providence Health & Services, have also faced criticism for implementing similar vaccine requirements.