ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction over New York state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.

It means, for now, thousands of unvaccinated employees will remain on the job with exemptions.

“April 9, 2020, so that was not even a month in," said nurse Krista Michael of Greece. "So we were doing our bit preparing to do our job to take care of the sickest patients. The sickest of the sickest."

Looking back on a career in nursing, Michael talks about the more than three decades of her life she’s dedicated to the field, including her efforts during the pandemic.

Krista herself caught and recovered from COVID-19.

“Several of us actually got sick," she said. "So I did risk a lot to care for your families, your loved ones. We did what we were called to do. In a time of critical need. We did step up to the call of duty. We took risks we made sacrifices.”

Krista has worked at Unity Hospital since 1990, currently as a surgical nurse, and previously in several departments including the emergency center and chemical dependency.

Now, Krista is choosing to not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Since I've already recovered from COVID, I have natural antibodies," Michael said. "I have a natural immunity that I feel is safe and effective for me. At least from what I have read and studied so far, I feel confident that the immunity that I have is complete, it's durable, and I feel safe with that.”

Krista has a religious exemption allowing her to continue working at Unity Hospital until October 12, the day the expected ruling could help shape whether states must allow religious objections to COVID-19 vaccinations in hospital settings and beyond.

“I've never from the beginning said that I was anti-vax and I will continue to say I'm not anti-vax," said Michael. "I simply don't want this one yet, I don't want it now. And the fact that the government is forcing it upon me or I lose my career, I think is an overstepping of their of their boundaries.”

New York’s vaccine mandate applies to all people who work in hospitals, nursing homes and certain other health care settings. It does not allow the employees to opt-out with weekly testing, forcing them to choose between getting the shot and their jobs. 

“If they have to fire me, then they'll have to fire me," she said. "I won't resign and I won't quit.”

Krista says she is a dedicated, committed, veteran nurse who does not want to stop caring for patients here.

“But I will go to work every day, essentially until I'm told I can no longer work here," Michael said. "But I will show up to work and do my very dead level best every day of my life, every opportunity that I have until I'm forced out.”