TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Christopher Helenal used to work at a hospital in Jacksonville as an occupational therapist.
Spending the last year and a half helping COVID-19 patients, Helenal made a choice not to take the vaccine, and said, he's now being punished for it.
"Somebody's got to stand up, and if it's not us, who will," asked Helenal.
Helenal was one of the hundreds of people gathering at the state capitol Monday to rally for medical freedom and to support the special legislative session that's set on minimizing vaccine mandates.
Rev. R.B. Holmes heads the vaccination task force here in Tallahassee.
"I think that we outta listen to the physicians and the scientists," said Rev. Holmes.
He said although medical freedom rallies and the legislative session want to limit vaccine mandates, they need to continue educating adults about the importance of vaccines to make the largest impact possible but support everyone's right to make their own health decisions.
"People have the right to articulate their beliefs but I believe the vaccines are safe and save lives," said Rev. Holmes.
