MEMORANDUM
STENGEL, District Judge.
Rodney Prewitt was employed as a pharmacist at Walgreens. He was demoted and then terminated after voicing a moral objection to vaccinating customers. He claims Walgreens discriminated and retaliated against him because of his age. Walgreens now moves for summary judgment. For the reasons explained below, I will grant this motion and enter judgment in favor of Walgreens.
I. BACKGROUND
On August 21, 2006, Rodney Prewitt was hired by Walgreens as a full-time salaried pharmacist.1 He was 57 at that time.2 He [295]*295was assigned to work at the Walgreens store in Oxford, PA on either the day or evening shift.3 The Oxford store is about eight miles from the plaintiff’s home.4 At the Oxford store, Mr. Prewitt was one of two full-time pharmacists, the other being Karen Schneider.5 Prewitt and Schneider rotated shifts bi-weekly so that weekend shifts were covered.6 A third pharmacist Ann Green worked part-time.7 Typically, two of the three pharmacists worked each day with their shifts overlapping between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.8 Only two shifts were available for pharmacists at the Oxford store to work because the store was not open twenty-four hours like other Wal-greens stores.9
a. Prewitt’s Moral Objection to Immunizing
In or around 2009,' Walgreens began offering customers the flu vaccine, among others, at the Oxford store.10 The plaintiff was morally opposed to administering the flu vaccine because a close friend of his had contracted Guillain-Barre .Syndrome after receiving a flu vaccine.11 His friend become paralyzed and died of complications from the disease.12 The plaintiff believed that there was .medical evidence to [296]*296substantiate such risks of flu vaccines.13 He did not want to be responsible for putting his patients at risk.14 The plaintiff voiced his objection to his store manager.15 He was permitted to not administer flu vaccines.16 When customers asked for an immunization, he would refer them to another pharmacist or tell them when an immunizing pharmacist was available.17
b. Walgreens Immunization Program 2010
In 2010, Walgreens made a business decision to provide flu shots during all hours at every one of its stores nationwide. Walgreens planned to heavily market this availability.18 As a result, Walgreens required all pharmacists to become certified to immunize and to perform flu immunizations for the 2010 flu season.19 Prior to that time, Walgreens had not required all of its pharmacists to be certified to administer immunizations.20
On May 24, 2010, Walgreens enacted a Vaccination Standing Order Protocol.21 The Protocol was essentially a large-scale prescription which allowed certified pharmacists to administer twenty different vaccines including the flu vaccine in Wal-greens stores.22 As part of the certification process, pharmacists were required to successfully complete an immunization training program.23
On July 15, 2010, Walgreens informed employees that it planned to expand its flu and pneumonia vaccination program to stores nationwide.24 Flu and/or pneumonia vaccines would be offered daily beginning in September. In preparation for the expanded service, employees were expected to complete the required training course by August 15, 2010.
During the summer of 2010, Walgreens disseminated a new Immunizer Policy (2010 IP) to employees.25 The 2010 IP explicitly stated that all pharmacists were expected to become certified to immunize and to perform all immunizations.26 The Policy became effective September 1, 2010. The policy stated, inter alia, that “[attempts to provide reasonable accommodation will be made for any pharmacist who provides medical certification of a condition that prevents him or her from performing immunization duties.” These reasonable accommodations included, but were not limited to, transfer to a vacant non-immunizer position/shift or assignment as a “floater pharmacist.” A non-immunizer shift was described as “any shift designated by Walgreens as not requiring at [297]*297least one immunizer pharmacist on duty all or part of the shift.” “These will be handled on a case-by-case basis between the affected pharmacist and their pharmacy supervisor.” Any person requesting an accommodation was required to submit medical documentation explaining the condition and accommodation to his/her supervisor.
On August 17, 2010, Walgreens issued a press release announcing that immunizations would be “available at Walgreens every pharmacy and Take Care Clinic nationwide, every day, during nearly all pharmacy and clinic hours — with no appointment necessary.”27 Other correspondence to employees in August made clear that Walgreens planned to market the readily available flu vaccine to customers.28
c. Scheduling during the 2010 Flu Season
The immunization certification took several weeks to be processed by the state of Pennsylvania.29 Walgreens allowed many pharmacists to work though they were not certified before the September 1, 2010 deadline.30 At certain times during the 2010 flu season, Walgreens did not have enough immunizing pharmacists to cover all shifts between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. in all stores.31 As a result, Walgreens did not offer vaccinations at certain stores in Pennsylvania during certain times.32 Signs were posted to alert customers to the unavailability of immunizations during those times and information about when immunizations would be available.33 Sometimes, certain Walgreens stores scheduled customers for vaccination appointments when immunizing pharmacists would be available.34 Customers were also referred to other Walgreens stores where immunizations were available.35 To allow for expanded immunizations, Walgreens also hired additional pharmacists in its Pennsylvania stores.36
[298]*298d. Plaintiffs Conscience Objection and Change in Job Status
After learning of the 2010 IP, the plaintiff informed his District Pharmacy Supervisor Phillip Anderson of his moral objection to administering flu vaccines. Anderson oversaw the enactment of the 2010 IP at several Walgreens stores, including the Oxford store. The plaintiff told Anderson that he was willing to become a certified immunizer, but he objected to immunizing as a matter of conscience.37 The plaintiff signed up for the required certification course in August 2010.38 However, he asked to continue working full-time as a non-immunizing pharmacist.39 Prewitt also made his objection known to other Walgreens personnel, including Oxford store managers.40 Mr. Prewitt was the only pharmacist employed in Pennsylvania who objected to immunizing.41
Anderson believed Prewitt’s objection to be sincere.42 In July or August, Anderson advised the plaintiff that he would be put on “floater” status beginning in September until the flu season was over.43 In an email dated August 23, 2010, Mr. Anderson asked the plaintiff if he would be willing to work overnight shifts (7 days on, 7 days off) in the York, PA store because he would not be licensed to immunize by September 1, 2010.44, Anderson had also offered this overnight shift to two other pharmacists who had not yet gotten certified.45 The plaintiff refused this alternative schedule because the hours were a significantly less than his regular schedule, the York store was forty-seven miles from his home, and he had “medical concerns identified by his physician and worries about the safety of him and his wife.”46 The plaintiff was not offered any other shifts in September beyond those available in York.47
e. Schedule of Pharmacists at the Oxford Store
Throughout August 2010, the plaintiff was scheduled full-time in the Oxford store as a non-immunizing pharmacist.48 On September 4, 2010, the plaintiffs employment was officially changed from full-time RPS at the Oxford store to “Floater pharmacist,” which meant the plaintiff was no longer salaried and only was paid for the shifts he worked.49 The plaintiff was the [299]*299only employee under Anderson’s supervision who was placed on “floater” status.50 After September 3, 2010, the plaintiff was not scheduled to work at the Oxford store.51 The other two Oxford store pharmacists, Karen Schneider and Ann Green, continued to work their regular schedules after the immunization season began.52 Both had become licensed immunizers by August 31, 2010.53
In September, David Reinertsen'began working as the second full-time pharmacist at the Oxford store.54 He was a licensed immunizing pharmacist.55 Mr. Reinertsen is six years younger than the plaintiff.56 He continued working full-time at the Oxford store as an immunizing pharmacist.57 All the pharmacists covering shifts at the Oxford store after September 1 were immunizing pharmacists.58
f. Communications Between Prewitt and Anderson in Fall 2010
On September 15, 2010, Mr. Prewitt sent Mr. Anderson an email titled “Follow up to our 09/02 conversation.”59 Mr. Prewitt indicated the two had discussed his temporary removal from the Oxford store on September 2, 2010.60 Prewitt said that he had explained at that time that he had completed the required training but his Pennsylvania Immunizer certification had not been processed.61 He asked Anderson to send him “written documentation” which he had been promised.62 Anderson responded with the “Performing Immunization Duties” from the 2010 IP, which states that all pharmacists were expected to become certified and administer immunizations.63
On November 4, 2011, the plaintiff became certified to administer immunizations.64 On November 15, 2010, Mr. [300]*300Anderson emailed the plaintiff stating the plaintiffs license had been approved.65 He would return the plaintiff to full time hours if Mr. Prewitt agreed to immunize. The plaintiff continued to assert his moral objection.66
g. Plaintiffs Demand Letter, Doctor’s Note, and Correspondence with Walgreens’ Counsel
On October 5, 2010, the plaintiffs attorney sent Walgreens a letter demanding reinstatement of the plaintiff to his former position.67 The letter documented the plaintiffs objection to providing immunizations “on the grounds of his moral/ethical and/or religious beliefs,” citing to the “PA Conscience Policy,” 49 Pa.Code § 27.103.68 The letter went on to allege that Mr. Prewitt had been subject to age discrimination because “certain younger Wal-greens’ pharmacists employed near Oxford in Pennsylvania who have not raised conscience objections are working despite non-compliance with Walgreens’ ■ alleged policy, thus implicating retaliatory intent, as well as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. (‘ADEA’).” These two younger employees were allegedly permitted to work their regular shifts at the Lancaster store though they were not certified to immunize.69 The rest of the letter discussed Walgreens’ immunization policies and the plaintiffs changed work status after the policies were implemented.
Attached to the letter was a note from the plaintiffs family doctor dated August 26, 2010.70 The doctor advised Walgreens that the plaintiff should not be required to administer vaccines because “he has significant and sincere aversions due to his own personal experience with a serious adverse reaction that resulted in a death of a friend and also due to his real concerns for patient safety.” His doctor believed requiring Mr. Prewitt to act against these beliefs would “create undue stress and cause significant illness.”71 He also advised that if Mr. Prewitt worked an overnight shift “at a store some distance from his home ... such a schedule would be deleterious on his health and well being” because of his known cardiac disease. The doctor noted that Mr. Prewitt was concerned about leaving his wife alone overnight in their “very rural” home since she has “medical issues that would be aggravated” by his working overnight.”72
Walgreens’ Senior Attorney Stephanie Gaines responded to plaintiffs counsel on November 3, 2010.73 She acknowledged that “Walgreens has recently made the business decision to increase the availability of immunizations in its pharmacies.” As a result, Walgreens’ policy on how it [301]*301handled scheduling immunization shifts had changed. Ms. Gaines explained that Walgreens expected to have Mr. Prewitt return to working day and evening shifts in the Oxford store once the flu season ended on January 31, 2011.74 To accommodate his continued objection, the plaintiff was offered ten day shift hours per week at the York store.75 These hours would have overlapped with when immunizing pharmacists were working.76 Mr. Prewitt did not accept this alternative schedule.77
The plaintiffs attorney responded to this letter on November 10, 2010.78 He reiterated his position about the plaintiffs demands and claims. He also indicated that the plaintiff had been emailed about available shifts in Newark on November 5 and on Christmas day in two stores in York. •
Ms. Gaines responded to the November 10, 2010 letter.79 She noted that Mr. Prewitt was now certified to immunize but that she assumed he still objected to immunizing. She offered him available non-immunizing shifts in the area: an overnight shift on Mondays at one store in York and day shifts on Tuesdays and Fridays at another store in York.80 He did not accept this offer.81
h. Prewitt’s EEOC Charge
On December 18, 2010, the plaintiff filed charges with the EEOC and the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commissions claiming age discrimination.82 That same day plaintiffs counsel faxed the EEOC charge to Ms. Gaines.83 At that time, the plaintiff was 62. The charge itself claimed that “younger pharmacists ... who are similarly not able to administer flu immunization shots, have since been permitted to work at Walgreens’ stores located within driving range of [the plaintiffs] home.” On December 19, 2010, plaintiffs counsel emailed Mr. Anderson and Ms. Gaines a copy of the EEOC complaint.84'
i. Prewitt and Anderson’s Continued Correspondence
On December 27, 2010, the plaintiff emailed Mr. Anderson to ask about his pay for the December 12/10/10 and 12/24/10 pay periods.85 He said that he had received pay in his last direct deposit for one vacation day and five sick days. He claimed he still had sick days left to use. Anderson responded and asked how Prew-[302]*302itt wanted to be paid. Prewitt replied that he would like to take his remaining sick days. If he could not use them, he “would just not get paid.”
j. Walgreens 2011 Immunization Policy
On January 12, 2011, Sherri Trotz, Wal-greens’ Executive Pharmacy Director for Midwest Pharmacy Operations, issued a “Revised Immunizer Policy: Effective 3/1/2011.”86 The Policy was distributed to Walgreens’ managers including Mr. Anderson. On February 15, 2011, Wal-greens informed its pharmacy supervisors that the policy was to be communicated to all pharmacists.87 It stated that non-immunizing pharmacists displaced during the past flu season should return to their prior position or schedule “if possible” after March 1, 2011. However, they were expected to become immunizers or work non-immunizing shifts “when available” after September 2011. Non-immunizing shifts were “mid-shifts” or day shifts at a “Take Care Clinic.” It specifically stated that non-immunizing pharmacists may have to work less hours. If a non-immunizer were to be displaced due to a lack of shifts, he could be terminated or eligible for disability. Anderson understood the 2011 IP to mean that pharmacists either had to immunize or had to work non-immunizing shifts.88
k. Plaintiffs “Retroactive Termination”
On January 21, 2011, the plaintiff emailed Anderson about his return after the flu season had ended.89 Prewitt indicated he was no longer able to access information regarding scheduling, pay, etc. through the Walgreens’ website. He asked if he would be returning to his full time position at Oxford and whether he’d be expected to immunize. He also noted that he had taken sick days to cover two eye surgeries. On January 28, 2011, Ms. Gaines requested to see Mr. Prewitt’s personnel file.90
Walgreens’ flu immunizing season ended on January 31, 2011.91 On February 2, 2011, Mr. Anderson emailed Mr. Prewitt about returning to work “as soon as possible.” 92 Mr. Anderson asked Mr. Prewitt whether his objection extended to other vaccines beyond the flu vaccine or whether he would be employed as a non-immunizing pharmacist.93
[303]*303On February 4, 2011, the plaintiff responded by saying that he expected to return to his former position’as a pharmacist in the Oxford store.94 He stated that he would support the immunization programs but maintained his “conscience objection to injection of any vaccines, regardless of type.”95 He then stated that if he was not given written notification within five business days of a specific date on which he could return to work at the Oxford store, he would consider his employment to have been terminated by Wal-greens. Neither Mr. Anderson nor any other Walgreens employee responded to his email.96
On February 14, 2011, Mr. Prewitt was sent a COBRA notice which stated that his healthcare coverage had ended on December 13, 2010 when he was terminated.97 On March 5, 2011, Mr. Prewitt received a letter from the profit-sharing department stated his employment with Walgreens had ended on December 13, 2010.98 With the exception of accrued vacation pay, the plaintiff was not paid throughout the 2010-2011 flu season.99
II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On April 6, 2011, the plaintiff filed this complaint against Walgreens. The original complaint included a federal claim of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA) and a state law claim of “wrongful discharge in violation of Pennsylvania’s public policy” embodied in the PA Conscience Policy.
After several motions for extensions of discovery deadlines requested by the plaintiff, the six-month discovery period ended. The plaintiff then filed a motion to amend his complaint. I allowed the plaintiff to amend his complaint to include a state law claim of age discrimination and retaliation claims under state and federal law for age discrimination. I denied his request to add discrimination claims based on religion or disability under state law and Title VII. I also denied his request to add a claim for wrongful discharge under the Pennsylvania Constitution.100
Three months later, the plaintiff filed a second complaint against Walgreens. See 12-cv-6967 (E.D.Pa.). This complaint included a “wrongful suspension claim” under what the plaintiff referred to as the Pennsylvania public policy “embodied in sections of Article 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.” I dismissed that complaint based on both legal substantive deficiencies in the complaint and principles of res judicata.101
The defendant filed this motion for summary judgment. At the close of discovery, the parties filed a joint stipulation of facts for purposes of a motion for summary [304]*304judgment.102 After the parties had fully briefed the motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff moved to withdraw Count III — his wrongful discharge/suspension in violation of public policy claim — with prejudice.103 I granted the plaintiffs motion to withdraw Count III because, as the plaintiff argued, Count III was legally deficient.104
The remaining claims at issue in this motion pertain to discrimination based on age: Count I for age discrimination claim under the ADEA and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) and Count II for retaliation claim under the ADEA and PHRA. Essentially, the plaintiff is now claiming his termination was because of his age and not because he refused to administer flu vaccines.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute is “genuine” when “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party” based on the evidence in the record. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A factual dispute is “material” when it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Id.
A party seeking summary judgment initially bears responsibility for informing the court of the basis for its motion and identifying those portions of the record that “it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Where the non-moving party bears the burden of proof on a particular issue at trial, the moving party’s initial Celotex burden can be met simply by demonstrating to the district court that “there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” Id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. After the moving party has met its initial burden, the adverse party’s response must cite “particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). Summary judgment is therefore appropriate when the non-moving party fails to rebut by making a factual showing [305]*305that is “sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 822, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the court must draw “all justifiable inferences” in favor of the non-moving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The court must decide “not whether ... the evidence unmistakably favors one side or the other but whether a fair-minded jury could return a verdict for the plaintiff on the evidence presented.” Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505. If the non-moving party has produced more than a “mere scintilla of evidence” demonstrating a genuine issue of material fact, then the court may not credit the moving party’s “version of events against the opponent, even if the quantity of the [moving party’s] evidence far outweighs that of its opponent.” Big Apple BMW, Inc. v. BMW of N. Am., Inc., 974 F.2d 1358, 1363 (3d Cir.1992).
IV. DISCUSSION
There are no genuine disputes of material fact.105 The outstanding issues in this case can be decided on summary judgment.
a. Age Discrimination Under the ADEA and PHRA106
The plaintiff concedes that there is no direct evidence of discrimination.107 ADEA claims lacking direct evidence are analyzed under the McDonnell Douglas burden shifting framework. Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 142, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000); Barber v. CSX Distribution Servs., 68 F.3d 694, 698 (3d Cir.1995). Under McDonnell Douglas, the plaintiff first has the burden of establishing a prima facie case of age discrimination: 1) he is at least 40 years of age; 2) he was .qualified for his job; 3) he suffered an adverse employment action; and 4) the circumstances of the adverse action give rise to a reasonable inference of age discrimination. See, e.g., Barber, 68 F.3d at 698; Massarsky v. General Motors Corp., 706 F.2d 111, 118 (3d Cir.1983) (“[A] plaintiff alleging a discriminatory layoff need show only that he is a member of the protected class and that he was laid off from a job for which he [306]*306was qualified while others not in the protected class were treated more favorably.”).
1. The Plaintiff Has Established a Prima Facie Case
As the defendant admits, the first two parts of the case are easily met: the plaintiff is over age 40 and he was qualified to work as a pharmacist.108 It is also clear that the plaintiff suffered adverse employment actions: he was demoted from his original position as a salaried pharmacist to that of an hourly “floater;” and he was terminated from employment at Wal-greens all together.109
For the fourth element, the plaintiff points to several pieces of evidence to show that younger employees were treated more favorably, thereby raising an inference of age discrimination.110 The plaintiff claims that other non-certified employees in Pennsylvania who had the same title as the plaintiff that were not placed on “floá-ter” status. According to the plaintiff, they were allowed to work their regular hours though they were not able to immunize. These employees were sufficiently younger than the plaintiff.
The defendant argues that the plaintiff has not established the fourth element because the other employees to which he points were not suitable comparators or “similarly situated” employees. “[CJomparator employees must be similarly situated in all relevant respects.” Wilcher v. Postmaster Gen., 441 Fed.Appx. 879, 882 (3d Cir.2011) (adopting standard from other circuits), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 1645, 182 L.Ed.2d 241 (2012); Opsatnik v. Norfolk S. Corp., 335 Fed.Appx. 220, 222-23 (3d Cir.2009). To determine whether two employees are “similarly situated,” a court should look at whether the employees dealt with the same supervisor, were subject to the same standards, shared similar job responsibilities, and how they may have acted differently. See Wilcher, 441 Fed.Appx. at 881-82; Opsatnik, 335 Fed.Appx. at 222-23.
The plaintiff argues that other non-certified employees are appropriate comparators because they were all employed in Pennsylvania, shared the same job title (RPS) as the plaintiff, worked day and [307]*307evening shifts, and were not licensed to immunize during the 2010-11 flu season.111 Specifically, the plaintiff points to Josette Baroudi, 38, who transferred to work at the Lancaster store on November 27, 2011.112 She was certified in New Jersey but not in Pennsylvania as of that date. On January 7, 2011, Pennsylvania accepted her certification.113 Ms. Baroudi did work during day and evening shifts (i.e. between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) between November 27, 2010 and January 6, 2010. Many times, she was working alone in the Lancaster pharmacy though she was not certified to immunize.114
During the 2010-11 flu immunization season, Walgreens made several accommodations for pharmacists who were not certified by the September 1, 2010 cut off: they were permitted to work their regular shifts even when they were the only pharmacists working such shifts; the work schedules of other pharmacists were al[308]*308tered to insure that non-immunizing pharmacists were always working with at least one immunizing pharmacist; and the schedule of the non-immunizing pharmacist was adjusted so that they were working shifts besides 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, if they could not be scheduled to work with an immunizing pharmacist.115
Walgreens admits that none of the other Pennsylvania employees, who were non-certified by September 1, 2010, were placed on “floater” status like the plaintiff.116 Many of these employees were significantly younger than the plaintiff.117 Walgreens argues that Prewitt cannot compare himself to his colleagues because he was the only one who objected to immunizing.118 Walgreens contends it would have allowed Mr. Prewitt to do one or more of the three options if he had agreed to immunize once he became certified.119 While this logic makes sense once Mr. Prewitt did become certified but still objected, it does not explain why he was not permitted to work his regular hours while he was waiting for his certification to become finalized. Other employees were permitted to keep working their regular hours while waiting for their certification. Whether they wanted to immunize or not they would not have been able to do so. Prewitt and his non-certified colleagues would be similarly situated in this regard.120
The plaintiff also points out that David Reinertsen, who was about six years younger than the plaintiff, replaced him in the Oxford store in the fall of 2010. Reinert-sen was not hired specifically for that role. He was a Walgreens employee transferred from another store to fill in, in Prewitt’s absence. It is not clear if he remained at the Oxford store past the fall of 2010.121 Unlike the plaintiff, Reinertsen was certified to immunize by the September 1, 2011 flu season. Under these circumstances, he [309]*309would not be considered an appropriate comparator.
Drawing all justifiable inferences in favor of the plaintiff, I find that a fact-finder can reasonably conclude the decision to change the plaintiffs job status to “floater” was made based on age. The plaintiff was told he was not permitted to remain in his original position at the Oxford store because an immunizing pharmacist needed to be available at all times. The scheduling at the Oxford store, where a pharmacist would be alone for all but two hours, prevented the plaintiff from remaining on full time. Yet, the plaintiff has shown that other younger employees, specifically Bar-oudi, were permitted to work alone while being uncertified. Walgreens also admits that not all stores had immunizers available at all hours on all -days during the 2010-11 flu season.. Viewing these facts in favor of the plaintiff, the plaintiffs removal from the Oxford store could reasonably have been based on age. The plaintiff has established a prima facie case of age discrimination.
2. Walgreens Had a Legitimate, Nondiscriminatory Reason
Once the plaintiff has established a pri-ma facie case, the law creates a presumption of unlawful discrimination. Barber, 68 F.3d at 698. The burden then shifts to the defendant employer to articulate a “legitimate nondiscriminatory explanation for the employer’s adverse employment action.” Id. If the employer puts forth a legitimate business explanation, the presumption is rebutted. Id.
Walgreens maintains that it did not suspend, terminate, or place the plaintiff on “floater” status because of his age.122 He was demoted and later terminated because he refused to immunize customers.123 After the 2010 IP, administering immunizations became an essential part of the plaintiffs job. As far back as May 2010, the plaintiff was notified that this was a mandatory change in his job description. He was the only pharmacist to be placed on “floater” status in Pennsylvania because he was the only pharmacist to object to administering vaccinations in Pennsylvania.124 The plaintiff did not work while being a “floater” because he refused to work any shifts which were not his regular ones at the Oxford store.
3. The Plaintiff Cannot Show Pretext
Once the employer rebuts the presumption of discrimination, the burden then shifts back to the plaintiff to show that the employer’s purpose was really a pretext for a discriminatory motive. Barber, 68 F.3d at 698. “Once the employer answers its relatively light burden by articulating a legitimate reason for the unfavorable employment decision, the burden [310]*310of production rebounds to the plaintiff, who must now show by a preponderance of the evidence that the employer’s explanation is pretextual (thus meeting the plaintiffs burden of persuasion).” Fuentes v. Perskie, 32 F.3d 759, 763 (3d Cir.1994). To show pretext, a plaintiff “must demonstrate such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the employer’s proffered legitimate reasons for its action that a reasonable factfinder could rationally find them ‘unworthy of credence’... and hence infer ‘that the employer did not act for [the asserted] nondiscriminatory reasons.’ ” (citations omitted). Id. at 765.
The plaintiff does not point to a single shred of evidence to support pretext. To the contrary, evidence in the record shows that the plaintiff himself agrees that his objection to immunize was the reason he was suspended and then terminated. The plaintiff himself testified that his supervisor Mr. Anderson had no dislike for him because of his age or otherwise.125 The plaintiff testified that he was not allowed to work because of his conscience objection.126 The plaintiff proceeded under the theory that his suspension/termination were “wrongful” based on his moral objection up until he realized that this claim was legally deficient. The plaintiff admitted that he knew of no pharmacists who refused to immunize and who-continued to be employed at Walgreens.127
When asked at his deposition about whether his termination related to his age, the plaintiff testified that he believed he was terminated because of a “combination of [his] age and conscience objection.” He premised his belief that age was a factor on his knowledge that -two other pharmacists at the Lancaster store were allowed to work while not being certified. Yet, he admitted that neither objected to immunizing.128 Under a theory of disparate treatment, the plaintiff must show that the age discrimination was a determinative factor in his termination. See Fuentes, 32 F.3d at 764 (emphasis in original). Even if age played some role in the plaintiffs demotion and termination, his age was not the “determinative” factor in the decision to demote him or terminate his employment.129 [311]*311See Hazen Paper Co. v. Biggins, 507 U.S. 604, 610, 113 S.Ct. 1701, 123 L.Ed.2d 338 (1993) (“Whatever the employer’s decision-making process, a disparate treatment claim cannot succeed unless the employee’s protected trait actually played a role in that process and had a determinative influence on the outcome”). His objection to immunize was the determinative factor.
The plaintiffs refusal to perform this job function gave Walgreens every right to take an adverse employment action against him. The plaintiffs manager repeatedly testified that, if the plaintiff would have performed immunizations, “I would hire him back, hands down.” 130 Anderson offered to return the plaintiff to his previous position at least twice, if the plaintiff agreed to vaccinate. But for the plaintiffs objection to vaccinating, he would have continued working after September 2010. See Gross v. FBL Fin. Servs., 557 U.S. 167, 180, 129 S.Ct. 2343, 174 L.Ed.2d 119 (2009) (“[A] plaintiff bringing a disparate-treatment claim pursuant to the ADEA must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that age was the ‘but-for’ cause of the challenged adverse employment action. The burden of persuasion does not shift to the employer to show that it would have taken the action regardless of age, even when a plaintiff has produced some evidence that age was one motivating factor in that decision.”).
Even drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff, it is clear that Walgreens demoted and then terminated the plaintiff because he refused to perform immunizations which became an essential part of his job.131 The facts are clear. The plaintiffs difficulties with his employer started when Walgreens enacted the 2010. IP, formally requiring all pharmacists to vaccinate. Every correspondence between the plaintiff and his employer in[312]*312volved his objection to immunizing. For almost the entirety of this case, beginning with his October 5th demand letter, the plaintiff claimed he was wrongfully suspended/discharged because of his moral objection. While the burden of production shifts between the parties, the ultimate burden of persuasion remains with the plaintiff at all times. Reeves, 530 U.S. at 142, 120 S.Ct. 2097 (citing Texas Dept. of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 258, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981)). The plaintiff has failed to show that the defendant demoted and terminated him based on age discrimination. His ADEA and PHRA discrimination claims are without merit.
b. Plaintiffs Retaliation Claims Under ADEA and PHRA132
ADEA retaliation claims are also governed by the McDonnell Douglas burden shifting framework. Klastow v. Newtown Friends Sch., 515 Fed.Appx. 130, 132 (3d Cir.2013) (citing Fasold v. Justice, 409 F.3d 178, 188 (3d Cir.2005)). A plaintiff must show that: he engaged in protected activity, he was subject to adverse action
by the employer at the same time as or after the protected activity, and there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse action. Id. The plaintiff has offered enough to establish a prima facie case of retaliation related to his termination: he filed an EEOC charge in mid-December 2010 which he forwarded to Ms. Gaines and Mr. Anderson; he was not returned to his previous position in February 2011 though he was told he would be reinstated at the end of the flu season; and the timing of the two events cari implicate a causal connection.133
The burden then shifts to the employer to rebut the presumption of retaliatory intent. Again, the defendant states that the plaintiff was terminated because he refused to perform any vaccinations. After the 2010 IP, vaccinating became an essential job duty of all pharmacists. The 2011 IP reaffirmed this point. In light of the defendant’s decision to make vaccinations more available at all their stores, their decision to terminate the plaintiff for refusing to immunize is a legitimate, non[313]*313discriminatory rebuttal to the presumption of retaliatory intent.
If the employer offers a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for terminating the plaintiff, the burden returns to the plaintiff to show this reason was really a pretext for an illegitimate motive. To show pretext regarding his termination, the plaintiff offers a conspiracy theory. He contends that Anderson’s February 2 email was simply a ruse because Anderson “knew when he offered to reinstate Mr. Prewitt on November 15, 2010 ... Mr. Prewitt would reject this proposal.”134 He claims this email was the “culmination of a plan that was hatched subsequent to November 2010, when [Walgreens] offered to unconditionally reinstate him when the flu season ended, a plan that germinated when it received his EEOC charge on December 18, 2010 — the extraction of Mr. Prewitt’s ‘voluntary resignation,’ which was in fact a constructive discharge.”135 This is nonsense. What reason would Walgreens have to string the plaintiff along for two months, waiting for him to file an EEOC charge, in order to “extract” Mr. Prewitt’s “voluntary resignation?”136 The plaintiff himself admits that Mr. Anderson had no ill will against him.
The plaintiff also argues that the date of his termination being made retroactive to December 13 — 5 days before his EEOC charge was filed — is suspicious.137 Yet, he offers no evidence to explain why this fact [314]*314shows pretext. See, e.g., Allen v. PetSmart, Inc., 512 F.Supp.2d 288, 293 (E.D.Pa.2007) (a plaintiffs “own unsubstantiated, subjective beliefs or suspicions alone would not suffice to persuade a rational trier of fact that age was a factor in the termination decision”); see also Robertson v. Allied Signal, Inc., 914 F.2d 360, 382 n. 12 (3d Cir.1990) (affirming summary-judgment and finding that inference based upon speculation or conjecture does not create a material factual dispute sufficient to defeat entry of summary judgment); Martin v. Healthcare Bus. Res., No. 00-3244, 2002 WL 467749, at *6 (E.D.Pa. Mar. 26, 2002) (“Plaintiffs mere pronouncement or subjective belief that she was terminated because of her race, gender and age is not a substitute for competent evidence.”).
The plaintiff had not been working since September 2010. Any payments he received thereafter were for accrued vacation time. By all accounts, Mr. Prewitt and Mr. Anderson had expected he would return to work in February 2011, after the flu season had ended. Mr. Prewitt was unwilling to comply with the new 2011 IP and to administer any vaccinations (not just the flu vaccine). He made Anderson aware of this point in February and would only accept a return to his prior position which required he be a certified immunizer. Given this chain of events, it makes complete sense that his healthcare coverage and profit-sharing employee benefits would be terminated retroactively. I see no pretext in his retroactive termination.
The facts are clear. Walgreens made a business decision to market vaccinations, specifically the flu vaccine. Mr. Prewitt did not agree with this decision and voiced a moral objection. He refused to perform an essential part of his job. Though Mr. Prewitt’s objection may have been genuine and sincere, he has not established any unlawful discrimination by his employer.
y. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, I will grant the defendant’s motion for summary judgment and enter judgment in favor of the defendant.
An appropriate Order follows.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 19th day of February, 2015, upon consideration of the defendant’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 57) and all responses thereto, it is hereby ORDERED that summary judgment is GRANTED in favor of the defendant and against the plaintiff, in accordance with the accompanying memorandum.
The Clerk of Court is directed to CLOSE the above-captioned case.