May 25, 2013
GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) -- An Indiana hospital has fired eight employees who refused to get flu shots under a new policy intended to protect patients from the potentially deadly illness.
The Elkhart Truth reports that IU Health Goshen Hospital officials announced in September that flu shots would no longer be optional for staff, affiliated physicians, volunteers and vendors.
Joyce Gingerich, who was fired from her job as an oncology nurse, said getting a flu shot would have violated her Christian beliefs. Gingerich filed for a religious exemption from the vaccination, but hospital officials rejected her request.
Hospital spokeswoman Melanie McDonald said government guidelines suggest that "just because there are beliefs that are strongly held does not mean that they are protected."
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