HOSPITAL WORKERS SEEK SUPREME COURT RELIEF

A group of health care workers on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court for an exemption from their Boston-based hospital’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

The challenge to Mass General Brigham, Inc.’s (MGB) mandate was filed to Justice Stephen Breyer, who handles emergency matters arising from the region.

The case concerns eight MGB employees whose requests for religious or medical exemptions were denied. After their continued refusal to get vaccinated by their employer’s Nov. 5 deadline, the workers were placed on unpaid leave and some were ultimately fired.

Past challenges to vaccine mandates have not been successful: the Supreme Court recently rejected challenges to vaccine mandates by Maine health workers, New York City public school teachers and a group of students at Indiana University.