I also agree that it should not be mandated. One of the biggest things people enjoy in this country is the freedom of choice. If we force people who are not comfortable to be injected with something, our freedom is lost. There are no mandates on any other vaccine currently out there, likely for this reason among others.
As for your question regarding masks, yes that has been mandated, but it hasn't really been enforced has it? People are walking into buildings unmasked all the time and no one is asking for their vaccination papers, because that violated HIPPA, and I doubt businesses like grocery and department stores want to put their employees into such a confrontational situation.
Vicki, you mentioned that we have had vaccines for many years and while that is true, the process used to create this particular vaccine was not the same. Similarly, the information we are provided regarding the vaccine is only the information that the governing bodies pushing the vaccine want us to know. There have been many negative effects experienced by those who received the vaccine. We should not require a person to subject themselves to that just because there is not
yet any obvious medical reason not to. We also have no idea what the side effects will be in years to come. There are side effects to well used vaccines, as well, so something as new as this is likely to have unforeseen consequences.
Nora, you mentioned the Delta variant, but it has already been established that the current vaccines do not protect against that strain anyway.
Though I do not want to get strongly political, what I will say is that we have to remember that the Federal government is a corporation. Corporations sell ideas and products and this particularly entity especially does so to create the society they desire. That goes beyond us being healthy and safe. Whether or not you "trust" the government and all they tell you, at the end of the day, it is not the way of this country to require specific lifestyle choices. They can convince you, sure, but they can't force you. If they try to force anything, vaccines or otherwise, many people will rebel under the banner of freedom of choice and it would be their right to do so.
Some of you may scoff at this and it is okay that you have chosen to accept what is being sold to you, but you cannot expect everyone to feel the same way that you do. That is not how our society works, though I understand there are people who believe it should. We have already established this with religious and cultural affiliations. However, if you are the type of person who believes everyone should be exactly like you, child care may not be the field for you, as children and families have many differences that should all be respected. This, too, has also been well established.
As is probably clear, to answer the original question, it should be up to the child care professional to make that decision for themselves and they shouldn't have to share whether or not they have and why or why not with anyone, unless they so choose. When is the last time you asked someone if they were vaccinated for polio or smallpox? If they got their tetanus shot? We do not ask the educators caring for our children these questions, likely because these are not as large a point of concern as COVID-19 is right now, but they once were and I highly doubt every single person in the country received those vaccines when it was rampant and yet, we don't see it anymore now, or at least not often. My point is, if we do ask about vaccines, then we do not ask about vaccines, period. It's not really any of our business what other people are choosing to do with their bodies. I suppose that is a whole other conversation, though, as that is a topic that has been struggled with among civilians for decades, especially in regard to women.
Thank you to Milagros for asking the question and to all of you for having a discussion.
------------------------------
Samantha Edwards
Training Specialist
ACCESS
Dearborn MI
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 08-11-2021 09:32 AM
From: Nora Krieger
Subject: Your Thoughts On Teachers Vaccinations
John Jeffrey Ramsey:
Why would you be against mandating vaccination? Of course, as with all vaccinations, some are exempt because of medical conditions but I do not understand your position.
Do you feel the same way about masks?
------------------------------
Nora Krieger, PhD
Associate Professor Emerita/Past Chair NJEEPRE
Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
Highland Park, NJ
Original Message:
Sent: 08-10-2021 08:38 PM
From: John Ramsey
Subject: Your Thoughts On Teachers Vaccinations
Vaccinate, don't vaccinate, just DON'T mandate.
------------------------------
John Ramsey
Preschool Teacher
Cherry Log GA
Original Message:
Sent: 08-09-2021 01:30 PM
From: Milagros Neu
Subject: Your Thoughts On Teachers Vaccinations
Hello Community!,
What are your views in getting early childhood educators vaccinated?
------------------------------
Milagros Neu
Pre-K -K Teacher
Learning Pods
Maplewood NJ
------------------------------