DeVore: Pritzker Secretly Preparing to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for School-Aged Children
DeVore: Pritzker Secretly Preparing to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for School-Aged Children (Chicago, IL) — Republican nominee for Attorney General Tom DeVore is sounding the alarm that Gov. Pritzker in an obfuscatory manner is laying the groundwork to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for school-aged children in Illinois. Currently, there are 12 immunizations that are required by the Illinois Department of Health (“IDPH”). (See Ill. Adm. Code 77, § 665.240)
Just recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommended the COVID-19 vaccine be included on the list of required immunizations for school-aged children in the United States. On Thursday, Gov. Pritzker was asked during a press conference if he was considering adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the required immunization list for Illinois children.
“We’re not currently requiring that [COVID-19 vaccine], that’s something that goes through the General Assembly – all of the vaccination requirements are heard by the General Assembly; decided upon by the General Assembly,” said Gov. Pritzker. “It’s obviously something we’re listening to doctors about and making sure we’re making the right decisions.”
But as Tom DeVore pointed out during a Facebook live, this is a decision which the Illinois legislature has already delegated to IDPH. (See 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1(3)) As such the Governor’s appointees by administrative rule, and not the legislature as Pritzker falsely claims, would be responsible for adding the COVID vaccine as a requirement. In order to deflect attention away from his administration on the issue, Pritzker is lying to the public to avoid admitting his intentions.
“If there was ever going to be an attempt to add the COVID vaccine as an additional required vaccination for your children, the IDPH would merely have to propose a new rule to add it as number 13,” said Tom DeVore. DeVore concluded by saying, “to my knowledge that hasn’t started yet, but you will have to, as parents, constantly monitor IDPH to see if they propose a new rule adding the COVID vaccine.” “If Pritzker is re-elected, he will not have to seek legislative approval to mandate the COVID vaccine on your children. All he will have to do is order his director of IDPH to propose a new rule adding it to Ill. Adm. Code 77, § 665.240.
DeVore: Pritzker Secretly Preparing to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for School-Aged Children
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