I'm writing to voice my opposition to any and all Covid-19 vaccine mandates for children in schools. (and anyone else for that matter)

1. First, I want to begin by stating that the Covid-19 "vaccines" currently being administered to the public are NOT (I repeat NOT) vaccines! The technology they represent are classified as therapeutics. The designation of "vaccine" was allowed to ensure that the drug would be granted emergency use approval and the drug companies could not be held liable for any side effects as they would have been if the drug was labeled a vaccine. 
2. The petitioner incorrectly links the therapeutic with a reduction in perceived risk in transmitting the virus. This is not correct. The therapeutic does not prevent individuals from transmitting the virus to other people. You CAN still be a carrier of the virus. The only documented benefit of the therapeutic is a reduction of serious symptoms (in adults).
3. Children are the LEAST impacted group by Covid-19. Nationwide since the beginning of the pandemic, only 63K children have needed to be hospitalized. (The stats were incorrectly reported as 900K by the New York Times. They retracted the story). 
4. Administering the therapeutic to children has NOTHING to do with adults being vaccinated. As an adult, I made the decision to get vaccinated. That was MY decision with MY doctor. With the vaccination rate in VA at 69% (as reported by the VA Health Department website), the reasoning behind vaccinating children because they can transmit the virus to adults is moot. 
5. There is virtually no information on the long term effects of the therapeutic. In fact, some early studies have shown that mRNA therapeutics may be linked to early onset alzheimer's. Wouldn't it be terrible if we found out that the drug caused alzheimer's but we couldn't sue the drug companies because it was an "emergency vaccine" and therefore they hold no liability? Convenient isn't it?
6. Early studies have also indicated that the therapeutic may cause early onset menopause in women. Has anyone had the time to evaluate the long term effects of the drug when it is administered to a 10 year old girl and her ability to have children later in life? NO - because it hasn't been around long enough. 
7. The argument that the therapeutic is just like any other vaccine is absurd. Look at the list of immunizations required for school in VA. The list contains vaccines that have been around for decades in some cases. There are long term studies for each of the vaccines. You can't compare a 30 year old VACCINE with a one year old therapeutic.  

This debate is NOT simply about a "vaccine". It is about our God given rights and freedoms. The government has been issuing "mandates" throughout the pandemic in lieu of laws. It is time to draw the line. My right as a parent to make decisions on behalf of my child for their own wellbeing is at stake here. I do not need (or want) the state's opinion about a therapeutic drug that only provides 5 months of actual benefit, but the possibility of a lifetime of terrible side-effects.

PS - I may decide to give my child the therapeutic. I'm not against vaccines. I am however, vehemently opposed to another "mandate" based on fear and not on scientific fact.