COLUMBUS – A Republican-backed bill putting limits on vaccine requirements as a condition of employment is headed to the House floor for a vote.
The Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Fairness Act would allows public and private employees to secure exemptions from mandated coronavirus vaccinations.
Co-sponsor Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Twp.) told the House Health Committee Tuesday that the measure “strikes a sensible balance between honoring one’s personal medical freedom while safeguarding the latitude of employers and schools to mitigate the spread of this virus and protect the health and safety of employees, students, patients and customers.”
The bill, co-sponsored by Rep Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) also grants corporations partial legal immunity from coronavirus-related lawsuits.
Minority Democrats say the bill was rushed through the committee process without testimony from opponents or interested parties.
Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), the panel’s ranking member, says the bill “undermines trust in medicine and the COVID-19 vaccines right when we need them the most.”
“Dozens of Ohioans are dying every day from COVID-19. We should be focused on public health measures that keep people healthy, not bills that undermine confidence in vaccines,” said Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin), a doctor
Exemptions are allowed for employees who experience negative medical reactions to the vaccine, prove natural immunity — demonstrated by the presence of COVID-19 antibodies — and reasons of conscience, including religious convictions.