NJ Senate Health Committee Chair Doubles Down On Covid Policies

Are mandatory Covid-19 vaccines for NJ kids just around the corner?

A long-time NJ Senate miscreant who championed the Emergency Health Powers Act in 2005, which was used by Governor Murphy to usher severe coronavirus restrictions in 2020, says he disagrees with the plan to end the State's school and childcare mask mandates. Senator Joseph Vitale of Woodbridge, Middlesex County has served in the NJ Senate since 1998 representing the state's 19th legislative district, he chairs the NJ Senate Health Committee and is Vice-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Notably, Sen. Vitale introduced NJ Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli to Gov. Murphy “shortly after” he won his first term as governor in 2017, according to statements made during the July 7, 2021 NJ Covid-19 Briefing (time marker 36:38.)

His extensive legislative history regarding health policy speaks volumes, as do statements and initiatives undertaken throughout his years of public service. A clear picture emerges of a lawmaker who believes that public health considerations and management of population health by the State trumps the preservation of New Jerseyans’ liberty regarding their own health decision making. These facts are evidentiary of views the NJ Senate Health Chair holds with respect to dangers posed by the virus, children (in the context of public health,) and utilization of mandatory vaccination as the primary tool for future risk mitigation when it comes to communicable diseases.

In March 2021 Senator Vitale said this:

"Children are vectors for the virus, so they can very easily get the virus and not be impacted by it and transmit the virus to older adults, perhaps family members who they live with," he said. "Children are spreaders for this virus."

In July 2021, he said this:

“We don’t have the vaccine yet [for all children], and that’s a huge cohort of kids,” said Vitale. “Until there is a vaccine, we’ll wait and see.” But Vitale said even then, there may not be a need for a state mandate if enough children are getting immunized on their own. “Adding COVID may not be necessary, we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

And in February 2022, he revealed this:

"Vitale noted he and his wife pulled their two young daughters out of daycare at the start of the pandemic and will not bring them back until there is a vaccine for kids their age."

With vaccines for children as young as 6 months on the horizon, his family choices mean that his own children are not currently subject to mandatory masking for several hours per day. The suggestion that the Vitales may choose vaccination for their children is a private family matter, but Sen. Vitale also opted to publicly criticize Gov. Murphy regarding parental masking choice for children attending school and daycare. And it doesn't stop there. In March 2021 he stated his intention to introduce legislation requiring mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for children once vaccines were approved. While further statements made in July 2021 seem to backpedal on the certainty of introducing a bill requiring mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for school and daycare attendance, he also has been vocal about reintroducing legislation restricting exemptions to mandatory vaccination. As Senate Health Committee Chair he would be able to immediately schedule and move any bill assigned to the committee pending support of his fellow senators.

Based on Sen. Vitale's statements and the FDA meeting scheduled February 15* (see UPDATE) to discuss recommending Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer’s product for the last group of New Jerseyans currently ineligible for Covid-19 vaccination - children under 5 years of age - NOW is the time to advocate that the NJ Senate Health Committee schedule a bill, S125 (originally introduced in April 2021 and ignored by the committee,) which would amend NJ's Law Against Discrimination (Title 10 - Civil Rights) to include legal protection for individuals who choose not to disclose Covid-19 vaccination status or accept the shots.

You can read the full text of S125 - Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID- 19 vaccine here.

Putting this legislation in front of the committee would be a meaningful way to open the debate over what future mandatory vaccination and public health policy in New Jersey look like as articulated by the will of the People.

As of February 11, 2022, the NJ Senate Health Committee has not posted a future schedule, but will likely meet again in early March.

It is vitally important that all New Jerseyans send a loud and clear message to the NJ Legislature that the public health tyranny of the last 2 years ends now. No more mandatory masking, no mandatory vaccinations, no negotiating.

Tell Senator Vitale that you want S125 scheduled for the next NJ Senate Health Committee meeting because discriminating against New Jerseyans based on their personal health decisions is unacceptable.

Here are ways to contact him and offer your thoughts about statements he made regarding the suspension of school mask mandates, regarding children as potential disease vectors, plans for mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, and restricting exemptions.

Phone 📞 732-855-7441

Email 📧 senvitale@njleg.org

USPS Mail 📬 Senator Joe Vitale, 569 Rahway Ave, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

OR

Sen. Vitale, New Jersey Senate, State House, P.O. Box 099, Trenton, NJ 08625-0099

*UPDATE: Shortly after press time, the FDA announced that the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for February 15, 2022 will be delayed pending further Pfizer/BioNTech clinical trial data. You can read the press release here.