OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is opposed to mandating coronavirus vaccines for children to attend school.
During a debate, Whitmer was asked about new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging children to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Whitmer said, “I do not support requiring the COVID vaccine for children.”
She continued, in reference to the pandemic, “We made quick decisions to save lives, and studies show we saved 1000s. I am proud of that.”
Polls showed that Whitmer was in a close battle with the Republican opponent, Tudor Dixon.
Dixon is a mother of four and a conservative commentator and has made Whitmer’s leadership during the pandemic a top issue in the campaign.
Dixon said, “Like many of you, I had a small business crushed [by coronavirus lockdowns]. Like many of you, I lost a loved one,”
Dixon continued, “Gretchen Whitmer doesn’t want to be defined by her carelessness or dishonesty or hypocrisy during that time.”
The CDC has voted to add coronavirus inoculation to the Vaccines for Children Program.
Republican governors have denounced the guidelines and attempted to stop school districts from adopting a coronavirus vaccination as a requirement to attend school.
Republican Governor Brad Little said, “I will never mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for Idahoans of any age group, especially children. As long as I am governor, that decision will be determined solely by parents, families, and individual citizens.”
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has said that given the relatively new nature of the coronavirus vaccine, the shot might not be suitable for young children.
“I get a kick out of it when people kind of compare it to (measles, mumps, and rubella shots) and things that have been around for decades and decades,” said DeSantis. “These are new shots.”
More on this story via Fox News:
Dixon, a mother of four and conservative commentator, has sought to make Whitmer stewardship during the pandemic a top issue in the context.
Democratic governors have largely remained silent, however. Some, like Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, say the new guidelines have no immediate impact on either children or parents.
“The main impact of the CDC recommendation is that health insurance companies will be required to cover the cost of the immunization and that the federal government can continue to provide it for free to low-income families,” a spokesman for Newsom said. “It’s interesting that Republican states are criticizing this as schools already require vaccinations for chickenpox, polio, measles and more.”