I strongly oppose any COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Virginia school children and employees. Where there is risk there must be choice.

The FDA fact sheets for the currently available vaccines list serious side effects including myocarditis, pericarditis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, and blood clots.

Furthermore, the FDA's letter of approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine (https://www.fda.gov/media/151710/download), which is the only approved COVID-19 vaccine, lists postmarketing safety requirements including:

Several myocarditis and pericarditis safety studies with due dates ranging from 2022 to 2027
Pregnancy safety study due in 2025
Longer-term safety and effectiveness studies due in 2023

Unlike traditional vaccines, which introduce a weakened or "dead" antigen to provoke an immune response, all currently available COVID-19 vaccines genetically engineer the human body to produce the antigen, which in this case is the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This is highly concerning as the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein itself damages endothelial cells.

There are more deaths after COVID-19 vaccination reported in the CDC's VAERS system than in the previous 30 years for all vaccines combined! It is a crime to enter false information in this system and records are verified by the CDC. The system is notoriously underutilized by busy medical staff. Adverse event reporting systems in other countries show similar disturbingly high numbers of deaths after vaccination.

Children are at greater risk of hospitalization after COVID-19 vaccination than they are from COVID-19 itself. Furthermore, children and young people have died of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. Rest in peace Ernesto Ramirez Jr. (16) of Texas, Jacob Clynick (13) of Michigan, Simone Scott (19) of Illinois, Sean Hartman (17) of Ontario, Canada, and so many others whose lives have ended much too soon.

Unfortunately, the currently available COVID-19 vaccines are non-sterilizing, which means they do not stop transmission or contribute to herd immunity. Many highly vaccinated countries are continuing to see significant COVID-19 outbreaks as a result. Utilizing such vaccines during periods of high transmission, for any but the most high-risk individuals, may put evolutionary pressure on SARS-CoV-2 to mutate into more dangerous strains that are vaccine resistant. This is similar to antibiotic resistance when antibiotics are overused. This could reduce hard-won levels of herd immunity from actual COVID-19 infection.

The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine, which is the only option currently available to children, appears to offer a very short window of protection, lasting only a few months, and is far less effective against the Delta variant. It is not yet clear whether Booster shots will provide any meaningful extension of immunity, especially if they are not updated for currently circulating strains. Each required Booster shot comes with additional risk as well. Furthermore, there is also a period of several weeks after each shot where immunity is very depressed and recipients are at greater risk of COVID-19 and other infections.

Vaccine mandates are never the answer. It is profoundly immoral to force anyone to put a substance in their body against their own judgement. For any product that is truly safe and effective, a mandate is never necessary. If it is not both safe and effective, there is no point in mandates.