TWENTY-THREE firefighters who refuse to take the Covid-19 vaccine will take legal action against the CNMI government if they are terminated, Variety learned.
On Friday, they received a notice of administrative duty — effective Monday, March 22, 2021 — from Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Dennis Mendiola.
The letter indicated that it pertains to the governor’s Executive Directive 2021-002, dated Feb. 19, 2021, mandating all employees of the executive branch of the CNMI government to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
One of the notices, a copy of which was obtained by Variety, informed a firefighter placed on administrative duty that his “work schedule will be 0600hrs to 1700hrs [6 a.m. to 5 p.m.] on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, your work schedule is 0700hrs to 1700hrs [7 a.m. to 5 p.m.].”
The firefighter, who declined to be identified, said they were told that their termination letters are “ready.”
He also said that they were advised by an attorney to file a lawsuit after they are terminated.
On Friday evening, Rep. Edwin Propst and other members of the House majority bloc video posted a video on Propst’s Facebook page to express support for the firefighters “who are being terminated without due process.”
Propst said the termination of the firefighters is “deplorable and disrespectful.”
The firefighters have signed a notice of complaint that they are filing under duress due to the threat of termination for their refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
According to the firefighters: “Due to the current adverse and possible fatal effects as well as the unknown long-term effects of the Covid vaccination, we as first responders, believe it is our responsibility to the people we serve, to our own family, and to our co-workers that we reserve the right to choose to accept or reject the covid vaccine.”
The firefighters said they are not anti-vaccine, but “we just want the choice.”
‘We feel unappreciated’
The firefighters appeared before the House of Representatives on Friday to express their concerns.
Their spokesman, Firefighter 3 Shawn Delos Reyes Kaipat, said there were more than 50 of them unwilling to take the vaccine but because of the threat to fire them if they didn’t get vaccinated by March 18, “our number dwindled.”
Because they believe the Covid-19 vaccine is still in its “clinical test stage,” he said “we are not ready to take it until it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.”
He added, “We do not know what will happen five or maybe 10 years down the line. Will we develop respiratory disorders? Cardiac diseases? Kidney or liver failure? We fear the outcome of taking it and ending up worse. Should it mutate, will the vaccine help? It was stated that ‘we will still contract the virus’ and what difference will it make if we choose to let our body make its own counter-measure naturally rather than giving it something that might affect it? And why does it state that ‘if a person decides to be fertile, they can choose not to take it’? So many questions arise…. It is starting to sound like, ‘lose your job or plan for a family’ right now from where we stand.”
He added, “This our profession, our calling, our honor and pride.”
He said when Covid-19 reached the island, they “responded” with proper personnel protection equipment “and keeping our guard at all times that it became a habit.”
Kaipat said they want to serve the community the best way they can until they retire. “But it seems that will not happen,” he added.
Marissa Flores of the Micronesian Legal Services Corp. told the House members that upon hearing the firefighters’ concerns, she referred their case to MLSC which, she added, did not receive local funding in the last fiscal year.
Protect the community
In a separate interview, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Saturday said firefighters, as first responders and front-liners, should take the vaccine to protect themselves and the community.
“Each of us have our fiduciary duty and obligation. They are our first responders. They are there to protect us,” he added
Torres said his directive mandating Covid-19 vaccination for executive branch employees “is not meant to punish anyone by any means,” adding that it was drafted with the advice and consent of the Office of the Attorney General.
He noted that those who cannot take the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons are exempt from the directive.
“But to arbitrarily say [that you] don’t want to take [the Covid-19 vaccine] is contrary to the attorney general’s recommendation,” he said.
The governor encourages everyone — not just government employees, but all community members — to consult their doctors and find out if they should get vaccinated.
He said he was among the first CNMI residents to be vaccinated. “It’s what we need to do,” he added.
For more information about the vaccine, go to https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/is-the-covid19-vaccine-safe
Firefighters pose for a photo in the lobby of the legislative building after airing their concerns during a House session on Friday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
Firefighter 3 Shawn Kaipat speaks during the public comment portion of the House session on Friday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
