Anti-Vax Measure Passes Ohio House: 3 Things To Know

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio House passed a legislative amendment this week that prohibits both public and private entities from requiring employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The amendment was hurriedly added to the unrelated Senate Bill 111, which was intended to simply direct $844 million in COVID-19 relief to Ohio communities. The entire Democratic caucus voted against the legislation. They were joined by three Republicans in opposition —state Reps. Rick Carfagna, Mark Fraizer and Andrea White.

“This last-minute, unvetted amendment is a dangerous overreach that undermines public health and makes us all less safe. It infringes upon the rights of private businesses to make the decisions that are best for them. This isn’t limited government. It’s a one-size-fits all mandate that will stoke vaccine hesitancy and keep us from reaching the vaccination level we need to put this virus behind us,” said state Rep. Allison Russo, a Democrat from Upper Arlington.

• Prohibits requiring anyone from receiving a vaccine that has not received full approval from the FDA
• Prohibits the state and businesses from mandating precautions for unvaccinated people, but not vaccinated people.

The U.S. has approved three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. All three vaccines have been the subject of extensive clinical testing and analysis and have been proven to be safe and effective tools for containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, representing the federal government, said private companies could require employees to receive the vaccines, Axios reported in May 2021.

Why opponents say this could be dangerous:

• Hospitals and nursing homes could not require staff to be vaccinated, even if they were dealing with medically vulnerable patients.
• Hospitals and nursing homes could not require staff to follow masking requirements or other precautionary mandates.

Will the bill become law?