Hi there, I first would like to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Carver. I live in a small, beautiful town of Maine called Dexter. I have two adorable kids and a husband who drives me crazy but loves me endlessly. I have also dedicated my life to serving others in the medical field. For the past 11 years I have worked in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health facilities as a CRMA/DSP. I have held the hands of those frightened, those on the verge of death, even through therapies to assist with past traumas. I have hugged those who have lost loved ones, wiped the tears off of people's faces and prayed with them as they said their final goodbyes to their loved ones. I love my job, I love what I do and my heart is breaking. Here is why.

As most of you know, our Governer, Janet Mills has mandated all healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before October 1st 2021. Usually I would agree. I love science, which includes vaccines. However, many healthcare workers, including myself, are just not ready to take this vaccine. The reasons behind us saying "no" differs from person to person. My main reason is simply not knowing the long term side effects. Especially since these vaccines are the very first to use MRNA. Other reasons may be medical reasons, philosophical reasons or simply because they do not trust our Government at this time. 

Whatever the reasoning may be, at the end of the day, we are fighting for our right to choose! Our rights to freedom and our rights to bodily autonomy. No one should be responsible for another's health or healthcare decisions. At the end of the day, if this mandate is not revoked, hundreds, if not thousands of jobs are going to be vacated. Our hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities are going to suffer. Those that stay will be over worked, they will become burnt out and either get sick or leave their position also. Many are talking of leaving the state entirely. Which will hurt Maines economy in more ways than one. In a state with which we already have a healthcare worker crisis, a mandate is not the answer. At the end of the day, its our patients, our elderly and our disabled that are going to be hurt the most. 

I hope you stand with us as we have stood with all of you throughout this pandemic. I hope you give us a thumbs up or holler with us if you see us participating in one of many peaceful protests. Please know, we are not doing this because we don't love what we do. We are not just healthcare workers. We are their friends, their strength, their joy on cloudy, rough days and we are considered family. 

Friends, family, other healthcare professionals. Please, I beg of you, stand with us.