SANFORD (WGME) -- There are just a few days left for thousands of unvaccinated Maine health care workers to get their shots. The state will start enforcing the mandate next Friday and after that-- jobs are in jeopardy.
For some, the decision to get vaccinated was simple. For others, like Jessica Muse, it’s been far from it. Now faced with a quickly approaching deadline, she’s still undecided.
“This is my passion. So if I don’t get vaccinated, I can’t do it anymore,” said Muse, who is one of the thousands of Maine health care workers required to get vaccinated by the Oct. 29 enforcement deadline.
Muse is a DSP/CRMA, which means she takes care of people with disabilities and helps with medication. Her employer confirmed that she would fall under the vaccinate mandate. Muse says her brother has mental illness and that is one of the reasons why she got into this field.
“I’m not against vaccines at all. I think they’re good. I think it’s a good thing,” Muse said.
But she says she's really uncomfortable with this one. CBS13 asked her why she was so anxious about getting vaccinated.
“I did my own research and I guess the fact that it’s new,” Muse said.
Researchers started developing coronavirus vaccines years ago. First after SARS in 2003 and again with MERS in 2012. MRNa vaccines have also been studied before for other diseases.
“I know people that have had bad reactions. I know the majority of people don’t. But it just scares me,” Muse said.
She did make an appointment two weeks ago-- but backed out. She just couldn’t do it.
Her employer is offering a $1,000 bonus, as part of its retention efforts, if she were to get vaccinated by Friday. Her employer says there would be another opportunity for a bonus in the future.
“Do I do something for money, you know what I mean? It’s just wrong. It goes against everything I believe in,” Muse said.
But it's a lot of money and this is her livelihood. She's given it serious thought.
“That's probably the only reason why I'll get vaccinated. Is for that [the bonus]. And my job, obviously,” Muse said.
Muse says this decision has caused so much anxiety-- and feels it's one of the biggest decisions she's had to make.
“I still—right now—am undecided what I'm going to do,” Muse said.
But she'll have to make up her mind soon.