I am writing to voice strong disapproval for any COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Virginia schools for students or teachers. This vaccine is still very new and has thousands of documents injuries and deaths. For the vast majority of the population (especially our students 18 and under) COVID-19 is not a severe illness. Thus the risk of the vaccine for most is higher than the risk from COVID. And because it is a risk calculation, every person should be free to make this choice on their own without coercion.  Mandates also do not consider natural immunity, which is shown to be even stronger protection than the vaccine. The long term effectiveness and safety of the vaccines are widely unknown, again, how can we force this on people then? Regardless of your vaccination status, everyone should be strongly against mandates. Once we loss the freedom to chose what goes in our body, we have are on a scary path of tyranny. Medical freedom should be so important to all Virginians.