Dear Sir(s) or Madam(s),

It has come to my attention that HB1090 has given power to the VDH to manage vaccine requirements for public schools and has removed religious exemptions. No governing body should be able to make medical decisions on behalf of another person their consent or the consent of a parent or guardian. It is our right to research medical services before making that decision for ourselves or our families, and our right to deny unnecessary medical services based on the research given and/or our religious beliefs.

Our bodies are the temple of our God and as such we are to care for our bodies and not allow ourselves to be controlled by anyone or anything other than His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The freedom of choice is our God given right, as Joshua said to the Israelites "If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom  you will serve...But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

I will not give control of my body or that of my children to anyone other than my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my God given right to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Deuteronomy 11:19, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4). My children are not attending public schools. We have been homeschooling for 8 years now, however any mandates regarding vaccines for school aged children also affect homeschoolers. I am advocating on behalf of the public school and homeschool families who do not wish to have forced vaccines but want to maintain our rights to choose what is best. This is a discussion that should only be had between a doctor and patient, not a governing body.

Respectfully yours,

Andrea Heavner