Rep. Robert Spendlove, R-Sandy, says he supports vaccinations but understands that some people may object to getting the shots. And, as a result, he’s proposing a bill for the January legislative session to block the state from mandating vaccinations, while not blocking individual businesses from imposing a requirement.
As Spendlove bluntly puts it, “We want to make sure we’re keeping government out of this process.”
Spendlove thinks it makes sense for certain businesses or even certain sectors to require vaccines, but the rule shouldn’t come from legislators or the governor.
“We shouldn’t prevent hospitals from mandating that their employees have to have the vaccine before they come to work,” he said. “I’ve heard talk of airlines mandating that passengers have a vaccine. It’s up to that private entity.”
“The rights of the individual may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint to be enforced by reasonable regulations as the safety of the general public may demand,” wrote the court.
Despite that clear legal authority, Spendlove believes the Legislature should pass his bill to set aside that power.
There’s one grey area Spendlove is worried about when he brings his proposal to the Legislature — what to do about schools?
“We have a combination of private and public schools and universities, and we need to figure out how to deal with that,” he said. “I don’t think universities should be mandating vaccines for their students, but I think there needs to be more discussion about that.
“We shouldn’t be forcing people to get it, but we also need to have proper protections for the rest of us that are at risk,” he added. “I think it’s totally appropriate for private entities to say, if you don’t have this, then you won’t be able to participate in certain activities.”
