Elizabeth Hovde of the Washington Policy Center discusses the push toward mandating a COVID-19 vaccine for students
Elizabeth Hovde
Washington Policy Center
An advisory group to the Washington State Board of Health took another step Thursday toward mandating a COVID-19 vaccine before children would be allowed to go to school.
At the same time, the federal Centers for Disease Control reports COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent transmission of the virus. A presenter at last Thursday’s meeting also reminded that the ultimate goal of vaccination is to decrease general transmission in the community, it’s not just to protect individual kids. And a compelling study presented to the advisory group to display vaccine efficacy clearly notes that the data do not show that “vaccination prevents asymptomatic infection.”
Since a COVID-19 injection does not protect children from contracting the virus or prevent community transmission, the science clearly leads to a “not yet” conclusion regarding a school mandate. All the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the vaccines and any possible long-term or irreversible impacts of either make this entire State Board of Health effort seem unnecessarily controversial and off-target.
I’ve watched the work sessions and a constant theme is uncertainty. Answers from presenters Thursday included, “We don’t know those numbers yet,” “This is all interim data,” and, “Part of the problem is we don’t have nearly enough data.” Medical experts are sure that COVID-19 information will “evolve,” that studies and trials are still ongoing and that officials might change the legal definition of “fully vaccinated” over time.
See my blog for coverage of the first advisory group work session or watch a full recording of the all-day meeting here. A state recap of decisions made at the second session is available on the State Board of Health’s website, and you can watch the all-day meeting itself here.
One more advisory group work session is set for Thursday, Feb. 24, and then the group will vote on whether to recommend a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for school and child-care settings. The State Board of Health can then accept or reject the advice. Vaccine exemptions to the requirement will also be considered.
I feel for this advisory group. The questions they are being asked are ones that cannot be answered well at this point in time. And the flood of information they’ve received is good, but it suffers from a sin of omission. “We don’t know that yet,” is often reality. No wonder several group members expressed anxiety that there is only one meeting left. They have been given mountains of information to consider, but there’s been little time to process the information or discuss it.
Do COVID-19 vaccines show benefits? Yes. Does vaccination stop transmission? No. Are children safer with a vaccine? That depends. Many children won’t contract COVID-19, and even more won’t become seriously ill if they do. That could make the vaccine’s possible and known impacts on children a similar risk or, in some cases, more of a risk.
Since people with and without vaccines can contract and spread COVID-19, a vaccine requirement for school settings is not appropriate. The advisory group should be considering that rather than a list of criteria created before pandemic times that better applies to well-known diseases and vaccines.
Elizabeth Hovde is a policy analyst and the director of the Centers for Health Care and Worker Rights at the Washington Policy Center. She is a Clark County resident.
Also read:
- Letter: New movie on COVID vaccine victims deserves a watch
Richard Beamish discusses the documentary on COVID vaccine victims, urging viewers to watch. - Vancouver screening scheduled of ‘Vaxxed III: Authorized to Kill’Vancouver screening of ‘Vaxxed III: Authorized to Kill’ scheduled for Sept. 18 at Vancouver Mall 23.
- Study: Risk for getting COVID rises with each shot
A new report from the Epoch Times warns that the more COVID shots an individual has taken, the higher the risk of getting COVID. - ‘That’s a scandal’: CDC knew COVID shots caused deaths, but lied with public denialsA new report from the Epoch Times reveals its investigation shows that the CDC knew of the links between the COVID shots and death – and lied about them.
- FDA agrees to remove anti-ivermectin posts off the internet in lawsuit settlementThe Food and Drug Administration has reportedly settled a lawsuit brought by three doctors who accused the health regulator of interfering with their ability to practice medicine and prescribe Ivermectin to treat COVID.
- No good news about student learning on 4-year anniversary of COVID school closuresFour years ago this month, schools nationwide shut down as COVID-19 numbers skyrocketed and students were sent home for what was initially planned to be two weeks.
- NBA Hall-of-Famer among plaintiffs in lawsuit over WA state COVID-19 restrictionsNBA Hall-of-Famer John Stockton of Spokane is among the plaintiffs suing over alleged free-speech sanctions levied against health care providers who spoke out against state restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Opinion: Gov. Inslee wants to be remembered for COVID-19 response?Elizabeth Hovde of the Washington Policy Center doesn’t think Gov. Jay Inslee should remind people of his legacy COVID response.
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