Moms Union: Keep kids vaccine mandate optional

Oregon Moms Union Calls On Oregon Health Authority to Keep COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids Optional
By Oregon Moms Union,

Salem, Ore.,- Last week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended childhood and adult immunization schedules for 2023. This now paves the way for the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Immunization School/Children’s Facility/College Law Advisory Committee (ISLAC) to make the decision as to whether this will be added to the vaccine schedule required for Oregon students to attend public school.

“On behalf of parents, we are calling on OHA to make the COVID-19 vaccine optional for students to attend public schools,” said MacKensey Pulliam, President and Co-Founder of the Oregon Moms Union. “Parents should be respected no matter what their decision as to whether their child receives the COVID-19 vaccine.”

In Oregon, vaccination rates for children under 18 are much lower than adults. Only 62% of children ages 12-17, and 37% ages 5-11 completed their primary series of vaccinations (2 shot series). Less than 3% have received the new biovalent booster.

“Vaccination rates for children under 18 show that many parents have chosen to not vaccinate their children for COVID-19. Mandating the vaccine would destroy public education through a continued mass exodus from our public schools,” said Pulliam.

Oregon Moms Union, formed in early 2021 in the wake of COVID-19 school shutdowns and distance learning, seeks to empower parents to advocate for a student-first K-12 education system. It currently has more than 90 volunteer School District Captains serving in more than 75 school districts. Learn more at www.oregonmomsunion.com.