In a recent executive order, Governor Abbott said that “no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.” The Governor also expanded the call for the special session to include legislation regarding whether state or local governmental entities can mandate COVID-19 shots and “if so, what exemptions should apply to such mandate.”
Unfortunately, while taking these excellent steps with respect to government mandates on COVID-19 injections, the Governor did not include protections for individuals against employer mandates. An Abbott spokesperson was reported saying that “private businesses don’t need government running their business.”
That is certainly true when it comes to business issues generally – but an employee’s right to refuse vaccination is a civil rights issue. Several Texas legislators have recognized that and filed bills to prohibit discrimination by employees based on COVID-19 vaccination statis.
But even though these bills have been filed, they cannot become law unless Governor Abbott adds them to the call for a special session.
With the current special session ending in just a few days, that’s not going to happen in this round. But we know that this isn’t the last special session of the year – and now is the time to start educating the Governor about why addressing employer mandates is so important.
TAKE ACTION
Contact Governor Abbott and urge him to add protections for employees from COVID vaccine mandates.
Call (512) 463-2000 from 8 am to 5 pm or send the Governor a message here: https://gov.texas.gov/contact
Sample script for email or calls is below. Personalize it by adding your own sentences and changing the wording – personal letters are far more effective than form letters!
Please keep your call short and be nice to the staff that you speak with.
“My name is ____ and I live in (town). First, I want to thank Governor Abbott for issuing the executive order to stop government entities from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations.
I am calling (or writing) to urge him to recognize that employer mandates also need to be addressed.
In practical terms, many people can’t afford to lose their jobs. They have to pay their rent, buy groceries, and care for their families. If employers are allowed to mandate COVID-19 vaccination, many people will be forced to take the shot against their will. Many of these individuals suffered bad reactions with a first dose or have already recovered from the disease and thus have natural immunity.
People should not be forced to take injections that carry a risk of injury in order to keep their jobs or attend school.
I urge Governor Abbott to protect Texans’ right to work and to an education, and add protections against COVID vaccine mandates to the call for the next special session.”
Talking Points:
Keep your call or email short! Pick the 2 or 3 of these talking points – or none of them — that are most important to you, and be sure to explain why this issue matters to you personally.
- Share why this is personal to you. Do you or a family member have a history of vaccine reactions? Are you at risk for autoimmune conditions or other potential side effects of the COVID-19 shot? Has your employer expressed their intention to require you to get the shot?
- One of the most basic human rights is that of bodily autonomy, as recognized by the Nuremburg Code. Ethical medicine requires prior, completely voluntary and fully informed consent.
- Vaccines are medical procedures that carry risk of serious injury. The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes vaccines to be “unavoidably unsafe” and to cause injury and death in some recipients. The U.S. Government has paid out $4.4 billion to the victims of vaccine injury. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/
- COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers and providers are shielded from liability through the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP Act. The only option for compensating people injured by COVID-19 vaccines is the Countermeasures Injury Compensation program (CICP). Only eight percent of all petitioners since 2010 have been awarded compensation through the CICP. No legal or medial expert fees are covered, no pain and suffering is awarded, lost wages are capped at $50,000, and there is no judicial appeal. In other words, the victims will be severely undercompensated while the pharmaceutical companies get rich.
- As of August 13th, there have already been 464,769 adverse events and 6,018 deaths connected to COVID vaccines and reported in the U.S. to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.
https://wonder.cdc.gov/vaers.html
MORE INFORMATION
Read the bills that have been filed at:
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB24
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB39
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=HB125
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=872&Bill=SB24
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