Some employees who care for children or work in support services at Akron Children's hospitals won't be at work tomorrow after receiving letters from their employer.  

So some workers and people who support them stood in solidarity, in 20 degree temperatures, at a vigil outside the Beeghly campus of Akron Children's hospital. 
 
Some held signs. One stated, "Nurses for Medical Freedom." Another stated, "This is how you thank us." The messages are regarding the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. 
 
Cris Fellows, a registered  nurse since 1992, who worked in the emergency room for 7 years as a suture nurse at Akron Children's Beeghly campus,  spoke for employees she has worked with for over a decade saying, "We just feel like the heart has been stolen out of this great institution, and it's dying. We are holding vigil for the death of jobs of dedicated people and professionals."
 
They believe more than 100 workers will be banned from working tomorrow, January 11th, 2022.
 
Critics say the forced unpaid unemployment is being ordered in the middle of employee shortages, RSV season, and when other illnesses children face in greater numbers than COVID-19, are rampant. 
 
"Fellows said, "There's people from the ped's floor, from the emergency room, from environmental, from the coders, to respiratory. There's people from all across the board. Why would you get rid of wonderful employees when staffing pis tight as it is?"  Ped's is short for pediatric floor. 
 
Fellows who retired rather than get the vaccine was the only one talking with WFMJ News. Others are holding out hope the U.S. Supreme Court will determination the mandates are unconstitutional.
 
WFMJ News reached out to Akron Children's Hospital requesting the number of employees who will be on unpaid leave, then eventually terminated at the Beeghly campus in Boardman, and at it's hospital in Akron. 
 
We also requested the number of religious and medical exemptions, and who made the determination to accept or reject the applications. We will be working to find out what criteria was used. 
 
The hospital administration has not provided that information yet, but states they are working with employees who expressed a commitment to be fully vaccinated. 
 
The  Chief Operating Officer states, "We value the contribution of every employee, but we must uphold our promise to provide the best care possible for every child in our service area.
 
A vaccinated workforce is the best way to protect our patients, especially those who are immuno-compromised, chronically ill, or not yet eligible to be vaccinated."
 
But health care workers who are opposed the mandates say the CDC has stated vaccination does not stop transmission of the virus. They add workers who are negative do cut down on spread of the virus.
 
WFMJ News has also requested information about Akron Children's Hospital most recent policy on COVID-10 positive employees, when they are allowed to work and under what conditions.
 
We have also requested information on if any scheduled surgeries or procedures have to be rescheduled and what this will mean for staffing at both Akron Children's Beeghly Campus in Boardman, and at Akron Children's Hospital.