TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Health is opening discussions to expand the vaccines required for students in public schools and one New Jersey Senator believes it is an attempt to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine to students.
Senator Holly Schepisi has accused the Murphy administration of considering new vaccine requirements for school children without admitting it.
The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) had sent proposed rule changes and a solicitation for comments to “stakeholders” on May 8, but Schepisi claims that the administration has not hinted at it to members of the Legislature or parents. According to Schepisi, the DOH is seeking input on revising New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8 Chapter 57, which covers communicable diseases and related topics, and proposing new vaccine requirements such as COVID-19, flu shots, and Gardasil.
None of these are currently mandated for children to attend school in New Jersey. Schepisi argues that getting any of these shots should be a choice that parents make for their children after considering the recommendation of their doctors.
“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 (R-39). “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. It’s another shocking example of this administration trying to sneak through a major policy change that would further erode parental rights.”
The DOH said it is seeking the input of stakeholders but has not specifically referenced COVID-19 vaccines publicly, but have hinted at the prospect in the past.
The agency recommends ‘aligning’ itself with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices set forth by the CDC.
At this time, the ACIP vaccine recommendations include the COVID-19 vaccine.
Only 46% of New Jersey school children are vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s clear that the majority of New Jersey parents have legitimate concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Schepisi. “Any parents who wanted to get their children vaccinated for COVID-19 have already done so. 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. 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.”
The Murphy administration has denied that it will mandate the COVID-19 vaccine to schoolchildren in New Jersey.