A waitress in New York says she was fired from a popular restaurant in Brooklyn after she chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for fear that it might not affect her chances of getting pregnant.
Bonnie Jacobson, 34, told The Post that Red Hook Tavern management consecrated her on Monday because she refused to receive the shot immediately.
“It was shocking to me,” she said Wednesday. “I went through the stages: I’m hurt, I’m shocked – then I got angry.”
Jacobson, who has been married since October 2019, stressed that she is not anti-vaxxer and “fully supports” people who are inoculated, but said she wants to wait for more research into the possible effects of the coronavirus vaccine on fertility.
“The way I see it, getting the vaccine is for me. It protects me. If I don’t receive it, it’s my choice and I would only hurt myself “, she said.
Available coronavirus vaccines have not been tested in pregnant women, but have not been shown to affect pregnancy and are generally considered safe.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccination is “a personal choice for pregnant women” and that expectant mothers can talk to their doctors if it’s right for them.
New York restaurant staff joined the list of people eligible for the shooting earlier this month.
Not long after, the management of the lively Brooklyn restaurant sent an e-mail to staff informing them that they were eligible, and later said the vaccine would be “mandatory” for all employees.
The only exception to the policy would be “If your own health or personal disability prevents you from getting this vaccination,” read Friday’s email, reviewed by The Post.
Jacobson – who began working at the restaurant in August after being released from The Wing Women’s Workspace at the start of the pandemic – responded that “she chooses not to receive the vaccine because there is not enough data or research at this time on the effects its on fertility. ”
“Once there is more research to support the fact that it does not affect fertility, I would reconsider my position,” she wrote.
But on Monday, after working a 13-hour Valentine’s Day shift on Sunday, Jacobson found out she was on her way.
The management of the tavern wrote to him saying that, although they respected his choice, it was necessary to obtain the shot and that “at this moment your employment will be stopped”.
“We are sad to see you leave,” it was said by e-mail. “If you change your mind, please do not hesitate to let us know.”
Jacobson said he felt blind.
She mentioned that she worked for the restaurant through the pandemic and learned to adapt to coronavirus restrictions, such as working outside “in the freezing cold.”
“We made bands with them,” she said. “I expected to be greeted with the same flexibility and compassion.”
While the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in December that companies could require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, hired lawyers said they have never heard of a case like Jacobson’s, according to WNBC. , who first reported on her dismissal.
“This particular subject is a very hot topic at the moment,” Felicia Ennis, a lawyer for employment, told the station, adding: “I have not heard of a company taking that extreme step.”
The restaurant said on Wednesday that workers still need to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but said it will change its policy for employees seeking an exemption.
“Once New York State allowed restaurant workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to implement a plan to keep the team and guests safe,” said the owner. Billy Durney in a statement.
“No one has faced these challenges before and we have made a decision that we believe will best protect everyone,” he said. “We now realize that we need to update our policy so that our team is clear on how the process works and what we can do to support them. We make these changes immediately. ”
Jacobson told The Post that he does not intend to sue and does not want his job back.
“It’s a good restaurant, the food is excellent, the money is wonderful [but] I think I want to take a minute for myself, “she said.
She and her husband, who got married in October 2019 and have been together for nine years, are “family planning” and want to focus on this, Jacobson said.
Jacobson expressed some hesitation about his choice not to be vaccinated immediately and said he would receive the vaccine in the future, “once there is more data.”
“The way I see him, maybe I need to be better informed,” she said.