The school system in Montgomery County, Maryland, has said it will allow religious exemptions for its COVID-19 vaccine mandate after facing a lawsuit about the policy.
In early September, the school system implemented a policy mandating that all employees get vaccinated as a condition of employment. The initial mandate allowed for exemptions for medical reasons, but did not mention allowing them for religious exemptions.
On Thursday, the system released what it described as a “clarification” that included information on how to submit religious or medical exemption claims to the school system.
A spokesman for Montgomery County Public Schools told ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½, “Our modification of communication to staff is to ensure they understand that religious exemptions have been and will be considered.”
An employee of the school system — going under the pseudonym “John Doe” — filed a suit against the school for the lack of religious exemption.
In the suit, Doe is referred to as an administrative worker with Montgomery County Public Schools and a “devout Christian.”
It said, “He sought the Lord for wisdom on this vaccine to determine God’s will, and sincerely believes that it is God’s will that he not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.”
The school system declined to comment on whether the employee will still pursue the lawsuit, saying it “could not speak to specifics of ongoing legislation.”
