As a 27 year award winning international patient advocate who served as a Patient and Consumer Representative appointed by Dr. Anthony Fauci to the first Pandemic Flu Advisory Panel, and grandparent to school-aged children, I do not support mandated COVID 19 vaccines for public, private and homeschool teachers or students. 

Science it is an ever evolving learning curve for which we do not have enough COVID 19 and vaccine empirical knowledge (as we do with measles) to mandate medical directives and decisions which belong between patients, parents and their individual medical providers. These decisions also include individual religious beliefs. 

Personal decisions to be vaccinated do not come easy for every person and family. Indeed, the topic of vaccines has divided many families greatly. The State Board of Health cannot solve the debate with a mandate and not expect backlash. 

Covid 19 Vaccine decisions should not be made for government, hospital system, school board convenience or sports team revenues or anyone other than the individual affected or guardian. That would be, in this case, school personnel and students. 

While I personally made the decision to be vaccinated, it was after careful deliberation and consideration of various health concerns with my physician of 17 years. Even so, with both injections, I was sick in bed for five days. 

I support vaccination through awareness and choice. Science does not support - let me repeat - science does not support mandates for vaccines. Read the science. 

Focus on basic science. Not politics, television revised science and sound bites. We are at the beginning of our learning curve and we see no reason for hysteria and mandates. This is not measles! Not polio! Not smallpox! Our family members decide what is right for us based on what our medical history and religious beliefs demand. There is no higher authority. Just say NO to Mandates. Thank you.