Should voters statewide get to weigh in on vaccine mandates? One Covington lawmaker thinks so and he’s hoping the Legislature approves his constitutional amendment in the upcoming regular session that would leave the question up to the public.
State Senator Patrick McMath told WWL when he was first elected all he heard about from his constituents was traffic and infrastructure woes in west St. Tammany, but these days it’s all about COVID public health rules.
“Help us put back some reason and some common sense back into this process, we’re hurting, we’ve been dealing with this for two years,” said McMath.
So far all COVID public health restrictions have come directly from municipal, corporate, and state leaders. McMath feels there’s enough information available to voters right now to let them decide.
“This is about giving the people the opportunity to, at this point, choose,” said McMath. “At this point in the pandemic we need government to give people all of the information, and then let them decide.”
McMath also filed a bill that if passed would allow people to submit COVID antibody tests in lieu of proof of vaccination, when proof of vaccination is needed.
Public health leaders in New Orleans, the only city in the state with a mandate, and at Ochsner, one of many employers to mandate vaccines, say the policy has saved lives and will continue to save lives should it remain in place. They point to extensive research showing the effectiveness of vaccines in lowering spread and significantly reducing severe outcomes, and to the vaccines’ safety. McMath said that’s just one side of the argument, and he’s heard from local doctors who support his bills.
“I’ve run both of these bills by a number of those folks and, and they’re supporters of them,” said McMath who added he and his family are vaccinated. “You can be pro-vaccine and anti mandate, or pro-vaccine but also pro common sense.”
When asked whether either effort could end or impact New Orleans’ vaccine mandate, McMath said that would have to be determined through the legislative process.
