A UMass Memorial Health surgical tech fired after she said she “prayed to God and received a message” telling her to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine has won an appeal to continue her religious discrimination lawsuit against the health care organization.

The Appeals Court sided with Rachelle Jeune, who was denied a religious exemption from UMass Memorial Health’s COVID vaccine mandate while working at HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in 2021. Monday’s decision overturns a lower court judge’s summary judgment dismissing Jeune’s lawsuit.

Jeune submitted her exemption request in October 2021, stating in part that receiving a COVID vaccination “would prevent me from worshipping my God.” She also leveled false accusations that COVID vaccines could genetically alter her body.

“The body is the

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