Updated bill would ban administration of mRNA vaccines

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — An updated proposal that would criminalize providing or administering mRNA vaccines was introduced in House Health and Welfare committee Friday morning.

The Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines. Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades.

The updated version of Sen. Tammy Nichols', R-Middleton, bill would no longer extend to animals.

"We were asked by agriculture to make one little change, and so we pulled out the portion of mammal. The rest of it remains the same," Nichols told the committee. "Our concern primarily is with people, so we're not too concerned on the animal portion of it right now."

Under the bill, providing or administering an mRNA vaccine to a person would be considered a misdemeanor.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, said the bill is not a very good use of the legislature's time. She said it actually feels like an infringement on people's health freedom.

"I do find it kind of ironic though, given that we heard so much talk about health freedom during the pandemic, and how, you know, employers shouldn't be requiring people to get vaccinated, how it was everybody's freedom to decide whether or not to get vaccinated and to decide what they do and don't want to put in their bodies," Rubel said. "I never supported any government requirement of vaccines to be clear. I do think people, generally should not be forced by their government to take vaccines, but I also don't think they should be banned by their government from taking vaccines if they want to."

Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, is a co-sponsor of the bill.

The bill needs a full hearing in committee before it can advance.

The projected end of the session is two weeks away.

ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwusSwZKaqnpZ6sb7OqaasmZxitq%2FA0aibrpuVmXqquoycpqalmanBprE%3D