VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — With an official decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, millions of health care workers across the country will now have to abide by a federal vaccine mandate.

Those yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will have until Jan. 27 to get one or face penalties that could include losing their job.

What You Need To Know

  • Those yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have until January 27 or face penalties such as losing their job

  • Some nurses are already planning for a new career

  • Halifax Health has said that over 75% of its staff is vaccinated

Now, as the mandate looms, nurses like Rebecca Sarwi are in a position to decide what’s next for their careers. 

“You know, getting the vaccine is not an option for me,” she said.

She isn’t quiet about her stance on the vaccine mandate for health care workers.

Sarwi has been a nurse at Halifax Health for 13 years and she’s unvaccinated with no plans for that to change.

“Where’s the line and where’s that goal post?” she asked. “I feel like it’s going to keep moving.” 

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, exemptions for the vaccine are available to employees with a disability, a sincerely held religious belief, observance, or practice, and for medical reasons.

Sarwi’s previous attempt at applying for a religious exemption was denied. 

“And even if we get an exemption, which would be great, and be able to keep our jobs, what are they going to ask of us at that point too?” she said.

Sarwi said she has since spoken with the hospital and will be submitting another waiver form, but the idea of it not being accepted is a possibility she has to consider.

“We’ll try to resubmit it, but I feel like after that, I mean that’s it," she said. "I gave more information than I need to.”

In the hospital, Sarwi works in the labor and delivery department.

If her time as a nurse at Halifax Health comes to end, she plans on spending more time on her side business as a lactation consultant.

“I think there’s only so much that people are willing to compromise," she said.

Officials with Halifax Health have reported that more than 75% of the hospital's staff members have been vaccinated.

So far, there hasn’t been any new memo sent out on the mandate as they continue to follow CMS guidelines.