Rhode Island
Mortality trends for public employee retirees in the years 2015 to 2024.
I’m a former public employee that did not want to put an experimental drug into my body just to keep my job. That experience has probably scarred me for life. I am now looking at public institutions, state by state, to see if there is any potential (official) evidence of harm caused by those coerced covid vaccinations.
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Well I’m sorry but there is a lot of stuff crammed into this one. And I don’t know why, but this little state has given me the hardest time. I am embarrassed to say that I probably spent as much time looking for an appropriate image as I did compiling the report itself (I do try to track down a graphic that sources in some way from the place).
The numbers are a bit strange. I think that the retirement system here in Rhode Island underwent some structural changes between 2015 and 2024 that may have thrown some of the normal progression of data off. I have forged ahead anyway, using the same framework as the past locales.
I did go to the effort of combining all the many groups listed into a single graph for the members removed from the rolls. You will observe that it is not a graph that we are used to … perhaps because of those system adjustments … or maybe it is truly unique compared to the other states. For whatever reason, that graph appears to show a minimal impact from the pandemic event.
Where we do see evidence of ‘something’ is in the death refunds for the ERS (Employee Retirement System). Though the dataset is smaller than we usually have (only eight fiscal years rather than ten), it does clearly show a major leap in these payments during FY2022. The ERS also saw a significant payout of death benefits in FY2022, which are a distinct category from the aforementioned death refunds.
The MERS (Municipal Employee Retirement System) also saw a big number for death refunds recently. FY2024 for this group had the largest sum in those payments.
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The leadership of the state went in for mandates on the public workers. This seems to have had the most impact on the health care system. But the governor did start a financial incentive program to get the state workers to roll up their sleeves.
Wanna roll the dice on your life for three thousand bucks?
Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island
Pension Trust Funds of the State of Rhode Island
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
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*the above table is a combination tally of all at the following groups for members removed. There are some unexpected numbers represented there, and unfortunately we only have eight years of usable data. At the end of the tables there are some extensive footnotes explaining several changes to the retirement system that occurred during our normal 10 year range. This may explain the anomalies, like the large numbers in FY2016 and FY2018. Not sure. But those do float the pre-pandemic average way up, influencing our graph.
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But here is the graph, nonetheless.
pages 172 & 173 (Schedule of Employees Added to and Removed from Rolls)
* Amount added to rolls includes cost of living adjustments and other benefit changes.
** Plan is required, at a minimum, to only have biennial valuations. The 2017 results are based on fiscal year 2016 valuation rolled forward one year and updated census data as of June 30, 2017 is not available.
Note: Schedule is intended to display information for 10 years. Additional years will be displayed as they become available.
Source: The most recent actuarial valuation for ERSRI is as of June 30, 2023. Data in this schedule prior to fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 was derived from actuarial valuations prepared by GRS and certified by the ERSRI Board in prior fiscal years.
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*the death refund graph directly above is the best I could do with the available numbers from the following table for the ERS members. There was no number given for FY2015 and the very small FY2016 figure seems like another anomaly.
If the very diminished FY2024 number is to be believed, then we are very glad to see that massive reduction in death payments!
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page 187 (Schedule of Benefits and Refunds by Type)
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*the MERS table here has a noteworthy figure for FY2024 in the death benefits, it has the largest payout in the ten year range.
Gov. McKee explores mandating COVID vaccine for RI workers
August 5, 2021
“McKee was initially resistant to the idea of a vaccine mandate for state workers, but more recently appears to be softening to the idea.”
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vaccine Policy
For Health Care Workers, Providers and Facilities
“If an individual is not vaccinated as of October 1, 2021, they cannot enter a
RIDOH-licensed state health care facility and/or provide services as a licensed
health care provider.
They will be placed on leave without pay for a maximum period of seventy-five
(75) calendar days beginning on October 1, 2021, to provide them the time
necessary to become vaccinated.
If by December 15, 2021, the individual is unable to provide proof of vaccination
status, they will be subject to progressive discipline, up to and including
termination for failing to meet legally mandated conditions of employment. Any
termination requires the approval of the Director of Administration.”
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RI health-care facilities support Gov. Dan McKee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate
August 12, 2021
“Definitively mandating vaccination in healthcare workers could lead to a crisis in healthcare staffing in an industry that has already seen a dramatic decline in the number of healthcare workers who renewed their licenses in 2021,” Gerber said. “Also complicating a mandated vaccine is the fact that the healthcare industry employs a broad range of staff from diverse cultures and religions which can be a concern with vaccination.
"I am merely pointing out that it is a more complicated situation than definitely mandating vaccination of healthcare workers and that there will be a ripple effect in staffing healthcare positions that will have to be dealt with."
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RI Gov. Dan McKee calls $3,000 vaccination bonuses for state workers a 'misstep'
December 9, 2021
“As it stands, the Council 94 contract says: "To provide employees an incentive to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and a retention bonus to remain employed with the State, all employees [who] are fully vaccinated ... or who have been granted a medical or religious exemption by the State, shall receive" the back-to-back bonuses.”
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*in case you have forgotten …
Pandemic Milestones:
January 20, 2020
-First covid case in the U.S.
December 11, 2020
-Pfizer Emergency Use Authorization
December 18, 2020
-Moderna Emergency Use Authorization
August 23, 2021
-Pfizer full FDA approval
January 31, 2022
-Moderna full FDA approval
April 10, 2023
-Biden declares the end of the pandemic
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My goodness, 3,000 dollars to take a jab!! If my calculations are more or less in the ballpark that would add up to about 3,000 Krispy Kreme donuts— or 250 dozens of donuts. Assuming that each box of a dozen KKs would be approximately 2 1/2 inches high, that would amount to a stack of KK boxes that would reach 625 inches or 52 feet in height. Kerazy!!
That eerie image caused me to do a double-take initially but now that I’ve finished reading the post, the picture’s surreal blend of carnival, medical and simulacra seems to capture the surprising elements you describe here.
It’s probably impossible to know how the changes in reporting practices affected the unusual figures you found but if they are legitimate then it’s heartening that they indicate lower mortality than what we’ve seen in the other states.