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Orleans County lawmakers introduce bill to ban vaccine passports in Vermont

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NEWPORT — Concerned over access limitations for people who choose to not get vaccinated, local lawmakers have introduced a bill into the Vermont House of Representatives to ban vaccine passports.

H452 would “prohibit the use of COVID-19 passports, which require individuals to disclose their vaccination status, by businesses and to attend public events.”

The lead sponsor is Rep. Vicki Strong (R-Albany).

Co-sponsors are Reps. Lynn Batchelor (R-Derby Line), Mark Higley (R-Lowell), and Robert LaClair (R-Barre Town).

The bill was referred to the Health Care Committee.

No action on H452 is expected this year. The Vermont Legislature is expected to adjourn this week or next.

H452 joins several other bills related to immunization that have gone nowhere this year:

H148, eliminating the religious objection to immunization, sponsored by Rep. Dr. George Till (D-Underhill);

H322, exemption to immunizations required for attendance at school and child care facilities on the basis of conscientious and personal beliefs, sponsored by Strong, Higley, Batchelor, LaClair, and Reps. Warren Kitzmiller (D-Montpelier) and Paul Lefebvre (I-Island Pond).

H323, reporting on adverse reactions to immunizations, sponsored by Strong, Higley, LaClair, Batchelor, Lefebvre, and Rep. Jim Masland (D-Thetford).

All of these bills will be eligible for action next year, in the second half of the 2021-22 biennium.

Most of this reporting was first published by Guy Page with the Vermont Daily Chronicle.

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