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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 13 december 2022

Judge rejects vaccine choice law in health care settings

By AMY BETH HANSON treated at a health care
Associated Press facility where the employ-
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A ees were not vaccinated,
person's choice to decline Molloy found. The law also
vaccinations does not violated the federal Occu-
outweigh public health pational Health and Safety
and safety requirements in Act by failing to keep the
medical settings, a federal workplace free from recog-
judge ruled in a Montana nized hazards, he said. The
case. plaintiffs proved that vac-
U.S. District Judge Donald cine-preventable diseases
Molloy last week perma- constitute recognized haz-
nently blocked a section ards in health care settings,
of law the state said was Molloy wrote.
meant to prevent em- "The Court's order is a win
ployers — including many for all Montanans — young
health care facilities — or old, healthy or sick —
from discriminating against who no longer need to
workers by requiring them worry about government
to be vaccinated against interference with the safety
communicable diseases, of their healthcare in Mon-
including COVID-19. tana," Vicky Byrd, CEO of
"The public interest in pro- the Montana Nurses Asso-
tecting the general pop- In this April 1, 2021, file photo Gov. Greg Gianforte receives a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine ciation, said in a statement.
ulace against vaccine- from pharmacist Drew Garton at a Walgreen's pharmacy, in Helena, Mont. Associated Press Montana Attorney General
preventable diseases in Austin Knudsen is studying
health care settings using from COVID-19, state offi- publican Gov. Greg Gian- sociation. They argued, the opinion to determine
safe, effective vaccines cials say. forte asked lawmakers to and Molloy agreed, that his next steps, spokeswom-
is not outweighed by the The Montana law made amend it to allow long- treating clinics and hospi- an Emilee Cantrell said in a
hardships experienced to it illegal for a person to be term care facilities to re- tals differently from long- statement.
accomplish that interest," denied services, goods quire workers to receive term care facilities made In the meantime, Knudsen
Molloy concluded in his or employment based COVID-19 vaccines if failing no sense for a law that the is leading a group of at-
Dec. 9 ruling. The Montana on their vaccine status. to do so meant the facility state said was meant to torneys general challeng-
Legislature passed the first- The law did not change could lose funding under a prevent discrimination and ing the federal Centers for
in-the-nation law in 2021, vaccine requirements at federal directive. protect private health care Medicare & Medicaid Ser-
about a year into the pan- schools or daycare facilities The federal directive was information. vices mandate that health
demic as some people, or eliminate a person's right recently challenged by at- The plaintiffs successfully care workers in long-term
businesses and Republican to seek a religious or medi- torneys general in 22 states argued that the law vio- care facilities be vaccinat-
lawmakers were pushing cal exemption. including Montana. lates the Americans With ed against COVID-19. The
back on health care mea- Republican lawmakers The Montana Medical As- Disabilities Act, which re- challenge argues the vac-
sures enacted to prevent who supported the bill said sociation, clinics and immu- quires public facilities to cine does not prevent the
the spread of the virus that it was needed in response nocompromised patients make reasonable accom- spread of the virus, break-
has now killed more than 1 to employers threatening filed a lawsuit against the modations for people with through infections are com-
million people in the United to fire workers who would state in September 2021 disabilities. An immuno- mon and that the vaccines
States. Just over 3,600 Mon- not get vaccinated. and were later joined by suppressed patient would themselves are not entirely
tana residents have died Before signing the bill, Re- the Montana Nurses As- be vulnerable if they were risk-free.q

Millions in central U.S. brace for snow, rain and floods

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A hail, winds and tornadoes. the front range of the Rock-
massive winter storm blew The storm will continue ies from Montana south
across the center of the southeast into Florida later into Colorado were under
U.S. on Monday, threaten- in the week, forecasters blizzard warnings Monday,
ing millions of people with said. "It will be a busy week and the National Weather
heavy snow, freezing rain while this system moves Service said that as much
and flooding. The National across the country," said as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of
Weather Service warned Marc Chenard, a meteo- snow was possible in some
that there would be "nu- rologist at the National parts of western South Da-
merous, widespread, and Weather Service at the kota and northwestern
impactful weather hazards national center in College Nebraska. Meanwhile, ice
in the heart of the coun- Park, Maryland. and sleet were expected in
try this week." People from Officials in western South the eastern Great Plains.
Idaho spanning into Wis- Dakota on Monday told The weather is part of the
consin and as far south as residents to brace for 6 same system that dumped
Louisiana were warned to inches (15 centimeters) or heavy snow in the Sierra
be ready for blizzard-like more of snow: "Get your Nevada over the week-
Sal Wood, Blake Wood and Jacobi Wood, 6, roll the largest conditions in the north and shovels handy, get your end, while downpours at
snowball at Camel's Back Park in Boise, Idaho, on Monday, flash flooding in the south. groceries, and check other lower elevations already
Dec. 12, 2022, after 2.5 inches of snow fell overnight according
to the National Weather Service. By Tuesday, Texas and needed supplies. The roads triggered flood watches
Associated Press northern Louisiana could will be hard to travel." across large swaths of Cali-
be pummeled by severe Regions stretching along fornia into Nevada. q