The Connecticut State Senate approved a bill Tuesday that aims to end a religious exemption for vaccinations at schools after nine hours of contentious debate.
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The Hartford Courant reported that Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, vowed to sign the legislation quickly. Republicans, who were joined by two Democrats, opposed to the bill claimed that First Amendment freedoms were being disregarded.
Rev. Yashica Blue, the minister of a non-denominational church in Hartford, said she is opposed. The paper reported that Blue was wearing a shirt, “This mom calls the shots.”
Fox 61 reported that thousands took to the streets outside the State Capitol earlier in the day to voice their objection to the bill that will take effect in 2022.
“It’s not something I’m willing to do. I don’t co-parent with the government; I co-parent with my husband and I’m doing what’s best for my children and my body,” one protester told the news station.
Connecticut will become the sixth state to put aside religious exemptions when it comes to vaccinations. The paper said the COVID-19 jab is not mentioned in the bill.
Colleges across the U.S. have also announced COVID-19 requirements for students returning to in-person classes.
Some colleges are leaving the decision to students, and others believe they can’t legally require vaccinations. At Virginia Tech, officials determined that they can’t because the FDA has only allowed the emergency use of the vaccines.
Erin Jones, co-chair of the alliance and Director Legislative and Strategic Counsel for the March of Dimes, told Fox 61, “Vaccines are critical to the health and well-being of our entire society, but it is especially important for children going to school to be protected from preventable disease—both for their own safety, but also for the safety of those in the community who rely on herd immunity to be protected.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report