North Jersey GOP lawmakers are speaking out against the possibility students may be mandated to have the COVID-19 vaccine and other shots in order to attend school in the Garden State.
According to State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-39), the Murphy Administration is considering instituting a new set of vaccine guidelines for school aged children. The allegation stems from a New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) proposed rule on May 8 sent for comments to stakeholders.
“The Murphy Administration is looking to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, and Gardasil in order for children to attend school through proposed rule changes,” said Schepisi. “The DOH reached out to supposed ‘stakeholders’ to share their proposal privately, while never hinting to members of the Legislature or parents that this might be in the works.
NJDOH Email
At issue is the email NJDOH sent out titled “Request for Stakeholder Input.” The message include the passages that the department was “is in the process of revising New Jersey Administrative Code…which covers Communicable Diseases and related topics” that is set to expire on Feb. 8, 2024.
The email included an attached presentation with rule changes that are under consideration, including the “Immunization of Pupils in School.” It read in part that it recommend it “align immunization” requirements be compatible with the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Parental Rights
The current ACIP vaccine recommendations include COVID-19, Influenza, and HPV, none of which are currently mandated for children to attend school in New Jersey, which has lead to the objection of GOP lawmakers.
“It’s another shocking example of this administration trying to sneak through a major policy change that would further erode parental rights,” said Schepisi.
Joining Schepisi in their concerns are her colleagues from the 24th Legislative District: State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho along with Assemblymen Hal Wirths and Parker Space, who are sponsors of legislation, S-3267/A-4938, which prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of attending public K-12 schools.
Seeking Transparency
“The very basic question we are asking, that parents need to know, is why the NJDOH reached out to stakeholders and requested input on proposed changes to vaccine requirements for school children,” said Oroho. “If the administration does not plan on requiring the COVID-19 or HPV vaccines, it should be transparent in its actions with parents and legislators. This type of behavior raises many red flags and makes it seem as if the administration is trying to change policies behind closed doors.”
Although rare, there have been reactions from COVID-19 vaccines were administered to children and teens. Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have been reported in children five-years and older that have led medical experts to consider the vaccine safe.
“Many parents worry that the potential COVID vaccine side effects in these age groups could be more dangerous for their children than the disease it’s meant to prevent,” argued Schepisi.
COVID-19 Vaccine Rates
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, just 46% of all New Jersey school children ages 5 to 11 have been vaccinated for COVID-19, with virtually no new vaccinations in more than a year. The North Jersey lawmakers said that this shows the New Jersey parents have legitimate concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine
“Any parents who wanted to get their children vaccinated for COVID-19 have already done so,” said Schepisi. “The fact that virtually no kids have gotten the vaccine over the last year shows that many parents don’t want it. The recent science has proven that the shots’ effectiveness in children wane significantly after only several weeks and that the risk to children from the virus itself is very low.
“Who are these stakeholders and why are they granted exclusive access and influence over NJDOH policy?” added Space. “This is yet another example of the Murphy administration attempting to bypass input from the public and the legislature.”
NJDOH Response
Additionally, Schepisi noted that the HPV vaccine, commercially known as Gardasil, is controversial as well, with many parents questioning potential harmful side effects.
“Getting any of these shots should be a choice that parents make for their children after considering the recommendation of their doctors,” Schepisi added. “Using the blunt force of government to compel parents to make a choice between getting these particular vaccines for their children that they don’t want or taking them out of public school is just wrong.”
After the issue was raised, Health Department Communications Director Dalya Ewais stressed that “no changes to the current rules have been formally proposed at this time” and any proposed changes would then have to go through New Jersey’s official rule-making process, which includes a 60-day period for public comment.
Politics at Play?
The Bergen County lawmaker believes the move is more about politics and this year’s elections, calling upon the NJDOH to directly address their intentions to the parents of New Jersey.
“The Murphy Administration knows parents will be outraged and that vulnerable Democratic members of the Legislature who are up for election in November won’t pass the controversial legislation mandating these vaccines, which is why they won’t even admit this is happening,” said Schepisi.
“If they say they’re not ‘considering it at this time,” that’s just code for ‘until after Election Day’.”
The alleged dangers to children from COVID vaccines are far fewer than the real and very present danger to the community if children bring high viral load cases of COVID to vulnerable citizens. Vaccines reduce disease severity, long-COVID risks, and viral load (infectiousness), not to mention keeping hospitals from becoming overloaded — yes, children do frequently require hospitalization. Anti-vax sentiment among Republican legislators is a power grab designed to appeal to ignorant constituents, who truly don’t understand how mRNA vaccines work, what risks there are of COVID both individually and to the community, and so such matters should be left to health experts. ACIP recommends these vaccines for children. Schepisi should stick to areas of her actual training and expertise instead of trying to capitalize on a political issue as a power grab.
“Protect the children” the right chants as they pave the way for children getting preventable illnesses.
“Protect the children” they say as they ignore the #1 cause of death for children (guns)
“Parental rights” they say as they make draconian laws that have the government intrude on the rights of parents and doctors to make safe, medically approved, health decisions for their own kids.
“Many parents worry that the potential COVID vaccine side effects in these age groups could be more dangerous for their children than the disease it’s meant to prevent,” argued Schepisi.
Many OTHER parents, in fact MOST parents, worry that their kid will get covid. What about our rights? Should we ban other vaccine mandates while we’re at it? Let’s bring back TB and measels! smh
Poison your kids if you want to. Get another booster if you want one please. But no,you can’t force this poison on anyone or anyone else’s child. That is not your right. Time will tell you will see what a mistake this is.
Howard “Big Pharma Bot” Fredericks always chimes in with his fear mongering even though he’ll be endangering the lives of children, most of which already have naturally derived immunity. What a dangerous crackpot. Will you please go get your 6th booster already so you’re not afraid of immune children killing you?
AND; Many people, including Parents, have said it before, they are saying it Now & they’ll continue to say that, “Let the Ones whom Ride decide for’n themselves.”//