Smith seeks special session for anti-vax mandate

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — State Senator Randy Smith has sent a letter to the governor asking for a special session to pass legislation that would make vaccine mandates illegal.

On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, Smith said the effort is all about protecting individual liberties.

“Requiring masks and protective equipment is one thing, but to mandate someone inject their body with something that they’re not comfortable with- we’re still a constitutional republic,” Smith said. “I feel that’s uncalled for.”

Mon Health Systems and WVU Medicine issued a mandate on Aug. 23 ordering all employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31. Days later, the Charleston Area Medical Center added the coronavirus vaccine to the list of required vaccinations as a condition of employment. CAMC employees must provide verification by Oct. 15.

According to Smith, many of these workers are very apprehensive about the possible side effects of taking an unapproved vaccine.

“A great deal of them are younger people, younger women in the nursing field concerned about if this is going to affect down the road if they’re going to have children and ones that are currently pregnant,” he said.

Healthcare workers have been relied upon for more than 18 months for care through the pandemic. Now, ordering them to take a vaccine that hasn’t been fully approved is unacceptable to Smith.

“A year ago these people were the heroes of the state with the pandemic going on,” Smith said. “Now they’re being treated like criminals because they won’t get the vaccination.”

Smith said many people have lost faith the government, especially over the last 18 months as the pandemic has unfolded. Because of that, he said people are more likely to question what the government is ordering us to do.

“Very few people trust the government anymore with anything because of things that have been going on over the last 10 or 20 years and they don’t trust the national press,” Smith said.

Mask mandates are not a concern for Smith because employers can specify a dress code or protective equipment and the masks can be removed. The role of government in the pandemic is to present the facts and data so residents can make their own informed decisions.

“It’s a serious pandemic, people are dying from it and people are getting sick from it,” Smith said. “We need to stick to trying to control it.”

At press time Smith had not received a response from Gov. Justice.

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