[MCOH-EH] Vaccine religious exemption requests

[Lesoski, Darryl]

Yes, we only allow exemption requests for the flu vaccine. For religious requests, the employee is required to complete our form along with an attached document outlining their sincerely held religious belief(s) that should exclude them from the vaccine. It is then reviewed by HR/ Legal for a decision. Medical flu exemptions require the employee’s provider attaching documentation supporting why they should be medically exempt. Those requests are forwarded to EH Nurse and the ID Doc (our ID consulting physician) for review.

MMR and varicella are required vaccines that we don’t offer an exemption option to. In the event an employee has a medical reason to exclude from these vaccines (typically, they’re on a biologic for an autoimmune disease), they would need to provide documentation from their provider as to why they cannot receive the vaccine. Those are sent in to EH Nurse / ID Doc, reviewed and granted as a “medical accommodation” if approved (per HR/ Legal we should use accommodation as the term). We don’t allow for a religious request since these vaccines are mandated by our accrediting bodies, whereas the flu vaccine is a hospital requirement, so we allow exemption options and have a bit more flexibility with that one.

Darryl


Darryl Lesoski, MD, MPH, FACOEM

System Medical Director – Occupational Health and Medicine, Employee Health
Munson Medical Center
Munson Occupational Health and Medicine
Email: dlesoski at mhc.net<mailto:dlesoski at mhc.net>

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From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+dlesoski=mhc.net at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Rob
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 2:14 PM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Vaccine religious exemption requests

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I am curious how other health care facilities are handling religious exemption requests for required vaccines such as MMR and Varicella? Are you allowing the exemption, or approving only if the healthcare worker wears a mask such as N95, or

I am curious how other health care facilities are handling religious exemption requests for required vaccines such as MMR and Varicella?
Are you allowing the exemption, or approving only if the healthcare worker wears a mask such as N95, or denying the request?

Thanks,

Rob Pedowitz, D.O.
VP, CMO Occupational Health and Safety
Hackensack Meridian Health

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