Alabama doctor refuses to treat unvaccinated patients

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A US medic in Alabama is refusing to see patients who have not had a coronavirus vaccine, claiming the move will boost take-up rates among his patients.

Jason Valentine posted a photo on Facebook of him pointing to a sign declaring his new credo, which reads: “Dr. Valentine will no longer see patients that are not vaccinated against Covid-19.”

The physician works at Diagnostic and Medical Clinic Infirmary Health in Mobile, Alabama, and his decision was prompted by the meagre vaccine take-up levels in the state, where anti-vaccine propaganda abounds.

In the Facebook post, which has since been made private, Alabaman news site AL.com reported that Dr Valentine had censured those spreading misinformation, writing there were “no conspiracy theories, no excuses”.

While his vaccine diktat will leave many feeling uncomfortable, the medic revealed that since posting the photo, three people had asked him where they can get a vaccine.

To those who have questioned the ethics of a doctor who is effectively choosing who he will treat, Dr Valentine wrote: "Covid is a miserable way to die and I can’t watch [people] die like that.”

The fact Dr Valentibne is taking such an extreme position shows the challenges faced by Alabaman authorities in persuading its population to get the jab, despite Covid hospital admissions being at near record levels in the state.

Last month, state governor Kay Ivey placed responsibility for the surge firmly at the door of the unvaccinated, telling Reuters "it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks".

Dr Valentine and Ms Ivey will want to avoid cases like that of Christy Carpenter, whose 28-year-old son Curt died of the virus. In July, she told The Post that “it took watching my son die and me suffering the effects of Covid for us to realise we need the vaccine”.

On Wednesday, Alabama reported 4,465 new cases, increasing its seven-day average to 3,728, according to data from the same newspaper.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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A Prayer Before Dawn

Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire

Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers

Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz