HARRISBURG – Citing overwhelming individual privacy concerns and government intrusion, Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Michele Brooks (R-50) and Judy Ward (R-30) introduced legislation that would ban the state, county, municipality or school district from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
The senators’ bill notes that all of the vaccines being administered in the United States have been approved under Emergency Use Authorization. Under federal law, an individual must be given the option to accept or refuse administration of the vaccine.
While Wolf Administration officials have indicated they have no plans to require a vaccine passport at the state level, the lawmakers believe that should this bill become law, it will ease concerns from local residents who are skeptical of sweeping government mandates.
“Much like the COVID-19 vaccine is a choice for any Pennsylvanian to make based on their own personal decisions, the state or government at any level should not require every citizen to show proof of this vaccine,” Phillips-Hill said. “Our goal should be focused on getting the vaccine to those who want it, but not punish those individuals who have made a personal choice.”
“Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available, I have worked hard to connect every resident who wants a vaccine with a trusted provider in our community,” Brooks said. “With that being said, I do not believe the state should be mandating the COVID-19 vaccination. It’s a personal decision.”
“Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or even for personal choice should not be discriminated against for making a decision that they believe is in the best interest of their health and safety,” Ward said. “This bill works to ensure that we are protecting our Constitutional rights and health privacy. After a year of being subjected to intrusive monitoring of their health and deliberate assaults on privacy, vaccine passports would be an unfathomable invasion into Pennsylvanian’s personal lives and private medical information.”
Senate Bill 618 was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for its consideration.
Contacts:
Diane McNaughton (Brooks) 717.787.1322
Cheryl Schriner (Ward) 717.787.5490