Former KY3 reporter Linda Simmons says she lost her job last week for not complying with a vaccine mandate with her employer, Gray Television.

Simmons, who spent almost 14 years with KY3, was denied a religious exemption.

She says she was shocked when the company decided not to grant her request.

“I stopped for a little bit, and just prayed, “Lord, I need your help,” she said. “It was kinda shocking. Because, yeah, I was expecting they were going to grant the exemption. Even if I had to keep working remotely, as I was. And wear a mask — fine. I’ll do that. But, no, they didn’t have any accommodation.”

Simmons says she didn’t want to get the vaccine because of some of the things she heard about the potential side effects.

“And I just believe it’s wrong that anyone should be forced to take anything, any shot, any medical treatment or anything by force. I just don’t think that’s right. We live in the United States of America and we should have that freedom to choose.”

Simmons telling KSGF Mornings with Nick Reed she didn’t feel like her newsroom  always covered both sides of the story when it comes to the potential side effects of the vaccine.

Simmons, who did get COVID, says she was prescribed a combination of drugs, including Ivermectin.

She says she was one of three people at the Springfield affiliate who didn’t follow the mandate, and the only person on the air.

But she says she knows of about 40 other people at Gray Television stations across the country who decided not to go along with the mandate.

Simmons, who is married with a daughter, is now without a job.

She says she’s just waiting to see what God will do for her next.

Simmons says the mandate was a decision made at the corporate level, and has nothing to do with the people she worked with in Springfield.

KTTS News has reached out to Gray Television for comment.