Agency
Virginia Department of Health
 
Board
State Board of Health
 
chapter
Regulations for the Immunization of School Children [12 VAC 5 ‑ 110]
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10/15/21  2:48 pm
Commenter: Shannon Skousgaard

Opposition to school vaccines mandate
 

There are many reasons to oppose mandatory vaccines for school children. Each could be developed into a substantial philosophical argument, though that does seem inappropriate in this forum.  I will therefore list only a few and with only the briefest possible comment.

  1.  Children are given into the care of their parents, who primarily and alone remain responsible for that care.  It is the duty of parents to care for their children, therefore it is the right of parents to determine appropriate medical care.  Therefore the state has no right to contradict or usurp the decisions of parents except in the most extreme circumstances.  Such a case would be one in which the child was surely to be irreparably  harmed or would die with the proposed intervention.  Courts hear such cases on an individual basis.
  2. In this particular instance the state has no right to subject individual students to mandatory vaccinations. There is without doubt an increased risk of harm from the vaccines themselves, especially for children and young men.  It is irresponsible of state decision-makers to refuse to heed the data on these risks or to willfully misinterpret, diminish or ignore them, even though they are only voluntarily reported.  Therefore the decision concerning vaccination must remain with the parents.
  3. Furthermore, the risk of death from the illness has been emotionally and politically weaponized in the most exaggerated form, while the risk from the vaccine has not been carefully reported and has been repeatedly diminished. Even so, the latter risk, from the vaccine, must be regarded as substantial given the hapless death and injury reporting system.  When there is risk in both directions, honest authorities must be relied upon to determine which is statistically more likely to harm or cause death. Then, it is up to the parents to determine which risk is greater for their own children.  
  4. I propose that the data we have on vaccination of children for Covid-19 be most carefully considered in all humility by the Board.  Doing so will render a negative decision regarding mandatory vaccination for a low risk disease with serious negative results from vaccines.  
  5. Thank you for your consideration.
CommentID: 111240