Most Patch Readers Would Disagree With A COVID Vaccine Mandate For Georgia Students

Correction: The graphic showing how many respondents think a vaccine mandate should be required to attend in-person instruction previously showed the “yes and no” answers backward. The graphic has been updated to reflect the correct information. Patch regrets this error.

GEORGIA — As Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is awaiting emergency use authorization for children age 5 to 11, the idea of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools is popping up across the nation, including in Georgia. Parents are also considering if they would want their child to get the vaccine, even if it's required.

According to the nearly 3,000 people who responded to Patch's survey last week, a majority of respondents said students should not have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — and most parents don't plan to get their child vaccinated, either.

The state of Georgia doesn't allow required coronavirus measures, per an executive order from Gov. Brian Kemp, signed in August. The order essentially bans local governments and schools from requiring many COVID-19 precautions like vaccine mandates, capacity limits and mask mandates, though Kemp does encourage mask-wearing and vaccinations.

Patch received 2,873 responses to our survey, with almost 62 percent of respondents saying they did not think students should be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine to attend in-person instruction. While not a scientific poll, the survey presents a broad idea of public sentiment regarding a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Georgia students.

Some people said because the vaccine is new, it should be a parental choice for at least the first few years, and making it a requirement takes away a parent's ability to choose what's best for their child.

"I would say it needs to be up to the parent because it is so new. The child who may have health issues may can’t get the shot for various reasons," said Jenna Kim of Dallas-Hiram.

Others said not knowing the long-term side effects of the vaccine should be enough of a reason to not make them mandatory.

"It is an unproven vaccine as far as I'm concerned. Instead of years of clinical trials we were used as the guinea pigs so to speak," said Randy Hitchcock of Cumming. "We have no idea what the long term side effects could be with this vaccine. I got dose 1 and 2 and wish now that I hadn't gotten them. Definitely not getting poked again."

Meanwhile, other readers said COVID-19 vaccines should be added to the existing list of required vaccinations to attend public school in Georgia, which includes the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), polio and hepatitis vaccines, according to the state Department of Public Health. Georgians can request a religious exemption for vaccines.

"All vaccines are new at some point and they were mandated and have proven to protect us all," said Arielle Stewart of Cartersville.

"I entered elementary school in 1955. We were required to have smallpox and polio vaccines. My children entered school in 1986. They were required to have polio, MMR whooping cough vaccines. We vaccinated our babies at 2 [months] old," said Michael Chisolm of Atlanta. "It's a shame such a life saving measure has been politicized and villainized to the point where usually logical and somewhat intelligent people refuse to take it. Many on their deathbeds have regretted that decision."

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Roughly 60 percent of respondents said teachers shouldn't have to get vaccinated either. Most school districts in the state did not implement a vaccine requirement for students even before Kemp's executive order, but at least one district still requires the vaccine for employees: City Schools of Decatur.

Patch also asked parents of children under 12 years old if they intended to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, regardless of a mandate.

Nearly 61 percent of the 2,474 people who responded to this question said they did not plan to get their child vaccinated, while 33.5 percent said they would; however, about 6 percent, or 142 parents, said they weren't sure yet.

"No mandate. I think it should be your choice. I feel if they mandate this, what else are they gonna come up with later to mandate?" said Amy Mcknight of Douglasville. "I guess if they mandate it, my child will be going virtual. She's been going to school the entire time during the pandemic that they allowed kids in school and has been fine."

"I homeschool my daughter who is 8 years old and I want her to get it because she has asthma and she wants to be in sports and we would like to be in church," Kim said. "And even though you get the Covid shot you still can get Covid too. I say it needs to be up to the parent for a few months or years."

SEE ALSO:

• Mask, Vaccine, Distance Mandates Nixed By Gov. Kemp
• Should COVID Vaccine Be Required For GA Students? Take Our Survey
• Kemp Pushes COVID-19 Vaccine While Continuing To Refuse Mandates
• COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate A Go For Decatur Schools Staff, Reports