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My native state of New Jersey pondered joining that group pre-pandemic, but caved before protests by types who now swoon over Robert F. But if enacted, it would add Massachusetts to the pathetically few (six) states that disallow religious exemptions. His bill would retain, rationally, medical opt-outs for students. The ensuing outbreak (1,000-plus cases spanning 28 states) launched Vargas on his mission. two decades earlier, the disease roared back in 2019 in communities with low vaccination against it. Peddling ideas from the risible (Bill Gates is tracking you through vaccines) to the debunked (vaccines cause autism), conspiracists burlesqued as believers even before COVID, ranting against measles vaccination. Of course, it’s not divine antipathy that soared over that time, but rather human conspiracy thinking, the kindling for pathologies from birtherism to insurrection and anti-vaccination. Yet during the 2022-23 school year, Massachusetts logged 813 instances of families claiming that their faith forbids jabbing Junior.Įvidently, the Almighty has gotten increasingly grouchy about vaccination: The state granted 147 religious exemptions in 1987-88, 418 in 2003-04 and 747 in 2011-12. Not even the Christian Science Church, which generally relies on prayer for healing, does. Especially as no major religion opposes vaccination. Professing religious scruples without professing a religion is what the ninth commandment refers to as “bearing false witness,” AKA lying. ( Unfortunately, 15 states do have personal belief exemptions.) Many of the concerns we've heard are based on misinformation.” Massachusetts is not alone in this regard a California pastor passed out religious exemption forms like Halloween candy to anyone who didn’t want the COVID-19 vaccine. “This is a violation of the law - we do not allow personal belief exemptions in Massachusetts. “Many people have testified, stating that they use religious exemptions because of personal beliefs about vaccine safety,” he told me.
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Vargas has, in the words of scripture, been fighting this good fight on Beacon Hill for several years. We know this, first, because anti-vaxxers, including our former president, Donald Trump, tend to talk publicly about their lawbreaking. Faith-based exemptions are being misused by people who want to avoid complying with the law. (The bill needs another favorable committee vote this current session to be considered by the full Legislature.) Prudent minds, religious ones included, hope this is well-founded optimism. His legislation received a thumbs-up from the public health committee in the 2021-2022 legislative session and, he says, he’s “hopeful” of the full Legislature’s ultimate approval.
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Andy Vargas, who represents Massachusetts' 3rd Essex district and sagely proposes scrapping religiously grounded exemptions to vaccinations. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)Įnter Democratic state Rep. Los Angeles, CA: Parents opposed to LAUSD's student vaccine mandate rally outside the district office in Los Angeles while the school board meets on enforcement of the mandate on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. But they may also opt out for religious reasons, which isn’t at all reasonable, for reasons I’ll explain. Families may be exempted from this mandate, reasonably, for medical contraindications (say, for a child’s vaccine allergy, or compromised immune system). Yet what happens when dissembling cranks camouflage personal beliefs as religion? Especially when those beliefs deviate from what religion actually teaches? And when they risk the health of children?Īs a condition of education, Massachusetts requires K-12 and postsecondary students, in public and private schools, to keep each other safe by being immunized against a range of diseases. The Framers, wary of the religious persecution that blighted colonial America, straitjacketed the national government from infringing on an individual’s spiritual life. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)Īs a churchgoer, I benefit from our constitutionally protected freedom of worship. Care Health Plan vaccination clinic at Los Angeles Mission College, January 19, 2022. Facebook Email A nurse administers a pediatric dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to a girl at a L.A.