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Virginia health chief says he will MANDATE coronavirus vaccine, ‘strongly opposes’ exemptions | Virginia health chief says he will MANDATE coronavirus vaccine, ‘strongly opposes’ exemptions |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Virginia’s health commissioner said he will make a coronavirus vaccine legally mandatory for all state residents when one is ready, arguing it will save lives, as critics push back, demanding the right to choose for themselves. | Virginia’s health commissioner said he will make a coronavirus vaccine legally mandatory for all state residents when one is ready, arguing it will save lives, as critics push back, demanding the right to choose for themselves. |
Dr Norman Oliver, who heads up the state’s department of health, said he would require all Virginians to get the jab so long as he remains health commissioner when a vaccine is available, according to local ABC affiliate WRIC. | |
“[Covid-19] is killing people now, we don’t have a treatment for it and if we develop a vaccine that can prevent it from spreading in the community, we will save hundreds and hundreds of lives,” Oliver said. | “[Covid-19] is killing people now, we don’t have a treatment for it and if we develop a vaccine that can prevent it from spreading in the community, we will save hundreds and hundreds of lives,” Oliver said. |
While the Virginia legislature is currently considering a bill that would permit religious exemptions to a vaccine mandate, as of now only those with certain medical conditions can opt out under state law. | While the Virginia legislature is currently considering a bill that would permit religious exemptions to a vaccine mandate, as of now only those with certain medical conditions can opt out under state law. |
Oliver said he “strongly opposes” any religious exemption, and dismissed safety concerns over the immunizations, insisting “we would not launch a campaign around mass vaccination with anything that hasn’t proven to be safe.” | Oliver said he “strongly opposes” any religious exemption, and dismissed safety concerns over the immunizations, insisting “we would not launch a campaign around mass vaccination with anything that hasn’t proven to be safe.” |
A local advocacy group, the Virginia Freedom Keepers – whose stated mission is to “raise awareness” on “medical freedom” issues – sees things quite differently. The group’s communications director, Kathleen Medaries, blasted the health commissioner, saying “he shouldn’t be the one person to make a decision for all of Virginians.” | A local advocacy group, the Virginia Freedom Keepers – whose stated mission is to “raise awareness” on “medical freedom” issues – sees things quite differently. The group’s communications director, Kathleen Medaries, blasted the health commissioner, saying “he shouldn’t be the one person to make a decision for all of Virginians.” |
“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s not a pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine issue,” Medaries added. “For me, it’s an issue of being able to assess each vaccine for myself and my family one at a time.” | “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s not a pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine issue,” Medaries added. “For me, it’s an issue of being able to assess each vaccine for myself and my family one at a time.” |
Medaries and the Freedom Keepers are far from alone in their trepidation. Recent polling data indicates that some 40 percent of Americans would either refuse a vaccine outright, or are still unsure if they would take one. Netizens have also voiced skepticism following Oliver’s comments – many echoing the concerns over civil liberties, while others pointed to potentially dangerous “experimental” immunizations. | Medaries and the Freedom Keepers are far from alone in their trepidation. Recent polling data indicates that some 40 percent of Americans would either refuse a vaccine outright, or are still unsure if they would take one. Netizens have also voiced skepticism following Oliver’s comments – many echoing the concerns over civil liberties, while others pointed to potentially dangerous “experimental” immunizations. |
“I am NOT an anti-vaxxer, but I would 100% move out of Virginia or any other state that MANDATED #coronavirus vaccine, cuz you know you'll be forced to get the experimental ones before they're tried and true,” one user wrote. | “I am NOT an anti-vaxxer, but I would 100% move out of Virginia or any other state that MANDATED #coronavirus vaccine, cuz you know you'll be forced to get the experimental ones before they're tried and true,” one user wrote. |
Though Oliver said he’s not sure how a vaccine mandate would be enforced, critics suggested it “won’t go well,” one going as far as to dub the health chief a “dirty fascist” while wishing him “good luck” with the initiative. | Though Oliver said he’s not sure how a vaccine mandate would be enforced, critics suggested it “won’t go well,” one going as far as to dub the health chief a “dirty fascist” while wishing him “good luck” with the initiative. |
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