A federal judge ruled that New York firefighter O’Brian Pastrana, who experienced a severe heart injury after his second COVID-19 vaccine, was not entitled to financial compensation. Pastrana’s employer denied his request for a medical exemption based on the firefighter’s severe reaction to his first dose.
Former New York City firefighter O’Brian Pastrana, who was forced to retire after he was diagnosed with permanent heart damage following the mandated COVID-19 shot, is not entitled to financial compensation for his losses, a federal judge ruled last week.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan ruled that none of Pastrana’s fundamental rights were violated when he was denied a medical exemption — even though he experienced a severe reaction to the first shot — and compelled to either get fully vaccinated or be fired by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
Cogan said the vaccine mandate wasn’t to blame for Pastrana’s injury, as he claimed. “In this case, Pastrana always had a choice between receiving the vaccine and keeping his job.”