Bucks Co. Nursing Home's Vaccine Mandate Blasted By Union Rep.

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The union representative for employees at Bucks County's largest nursing home is asking county officials to reconsider its mandatory vaccine requirement for staff at the facility.

Tom Tosti, a Middletown Township resident who heads the southeastern branch of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union, said the county failed to work with the union despite repeated attempts at outreach on behalf of employees.

"Instead of taking AFSCME up on our offer to work with the county, you laid out an ultimatum. This was a complete failure on your part," Tosti said in a statement to the Bucks County of Commissioners. "We were ready to work with the county to get people vaccinated, but instead you said they will be fired, which only makes it harder for us to work with you on this."

Bucks County Spokesperson Larry King confirmed to Patch last week that the county-run nursing home is requiring its employees get vaccinated by the end of March or else risk losing their job. Tosti said that employees should have the right to refuse a vaccine that is only approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.

"Personally, I will be happy to roll up my sleeve to get vaccinated when it is my turn, but that is my own personal decision," Tosti said. "There are many Americans, including many who work at the Manor, who are hesitant to be among the first to be vaccinated, particularly when the vaccine has only been authorized for emergency use and is not yet approved by the FDA."

Eighty-five residents have died of COVID-19 at the nursing home since March, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. County officials said the high death rate at the facility led to the decision to make the vaccine mandatory for employees there.

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