OPINION:
The Department of Public Health in Massachusetts just ordered all students older than 6 months, and up through college, to get the flu vaccination as a condition of attending school.
You knew this was coming.
What’s more, you suspected this was coming for COVID-19, too — once the vaccine is available, that is. Right?
It’s called voluntary compliance.
It’s where the government gets to shrug its shoulders and shake its head and deny that it’s forcing citizens to do something — while at the same time, restricting citizens from participating in certain acts unless they do that very thing the government denies it’s forcing them to do.
“The new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic,” health wonks wrote of their new policy.
And don’t think students taking classes remotely this year are exempt, either; they’re not. Home-schooled kids are exempt; kids with medical or religious reasons are exempt; but elementary and secondary students using remote learning models must still comply.
This is an outrage.
So much for the left’s old “it’s my body, I can do what I want” messaging. Guess that only works for abortion?
The policy, like most boot-stamping government policies, is being billed as a for-the-good-of-the-people action.
“Every year, thousands of people of all ages are affected by influenza, leading to many hospitalizations and deaths,” said Larry Madoff, a doctor and the medical director of the state’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, WCVB 5 reported. “It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources.”
Oh yes, another good doctor comes to save us from ourselves. The coronavirus era seems to be filled with such medical brainiacs who know better than the people — than you, than me, than mothers and fathers raising their own children — what’s best, what’s healthiest, what’s scientifically sound for an entire nation of people.
And right on cue, here come the defense arguments.
“One State Is Requiring Its Students to Get Flu Vaccine by End of Year — and, Yes, It’s Legal,” wrote Law and Crime.
The opinion piece — despite the headline, this is opinion, folks — goes on to state: “Massachusetts will mandate that all students obtain the flu vaccine by the end of 2020 in order to attend classes next year. This is a valid and constitutional use of the Bay State’s police power.”
Feel free to disagree.
Though, of course, the Bay State powers-that-be would have it believed you can’t.
It’s a brave new world.
Take a pill; take a shot. Sit down, shut up — let the kindly doctor take charge. Where’s the freedom; where’s the free will?
Today’s flu shot is tomorrow’s coronavirus vaccine, is next year’s — fill in the blank. Unelected medical professionals need to stick to their jobs and remember their “do no harm” oaths, which include forcing individuals to take something against their will. Politicians better stop catering to these bureaucrats and start putting citizens’ interests first by enforcing constitutional limits of power on the power-hungry.
And citizens better start bucking these vaccine mandates now. This Massachusetts policy isn’t going to stay within its borders. Other states, other Democratic-run states, are sure to follow suit.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.
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