The last thing anyone wants is another article about COVID-19. I’m tired of reading them and I’m reluctant to write one. But I feel the need to speak out on behalf of my children and other parents who share my beliefs.
Two bills have been presented in our state legislature seeking to amend or replace the state’s current school vaccine law.
The current law (M.G.L. c. 76, § 15) is plainly worded and easy for any parent to understand. A child must be immunized against certain common diseases (e.g., measles, polio, tetanus, etc.) before attending school. The statute provides two exemptions. First, a child is exempt if his or her doctor certifies that the child’s health would be endangered by vaccination. Second, a child is also exempt if his or her parent states in writing that vaccination conflicts with the family’s religious beliefs.
House Bill H.2411 would amend the current statute by deleting, in its entirety, the religious-belief exemption. A separate senate bill (S.1517) seeks to completely replace the existing statute with a new series of laws that should concern all parents.
The proposed senate bill, entitled “An Act promoting community immunity”, would greatly expand the scope of the existing immunization law which currently applies to only schools. If enacted, the bill would impose immunization requirements on almost every childhood group activity: day cares, preschools, recreational camps, etc.
It would eliminate the narrowly defined diseases that the existing law covers and, instead, authorize the Department of Public Health to choose what vaccinations are needed on an ad hoc basis.
It seeks to replace the straight-forward exemption criteria with a convoluted bureaucratic application process which gives the public health department authority to deny religious-belief exemptions.
Finally, it turns child programs into data collection agencies. All of the groups covered by the proposed law must collect and report immunization data to the Department of Public Health on a regular basis. If a program has a higher than average rate of unvaccinated participants, it will be targeted by public health officials as an “elevated risk program.” Such programs must then disseminate “elevated risk” notices to their participants and may be subjected to “outreach” efforts by health officials.
Thus, the overall purpose of the proposed law is to tighten or eliminate exemptions, expand government power, and generally make life difficult for those who are unwilling to submit to the state’s agenda. It’s also glaringly obvious that these proposed laws are laying the groundwork to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations in schools and most other youth activities.
At what point is the COVID fear and hysteria going to stop? I believe that it’s time to draw the line when it comes to our children. If you are a parent who is unwilling to subject your child to a highly potent, hastily prepared vaccine, then I’m asking you to speak out against these bills.
Contact your state representative and tell him or her to reject H.2411. Likewise, tell your state senator that you oppose S.1517. Lastly, make it known to the governor himself that he should veto these bills or any version of them that appears on his desk for approval.
On behalf of your children, it’s time to speak up.
Law Office of Justin R. McCarthy 