Wiggam Backs Ohio Medical Freedom Plan

COLUMBUS – A historic COVID-19 medical freedom bill will protect Ohioans from vaccine mandates and ban “vaccine passports,” State Representative Scott Wiggam announced Thursday.

The Ohio Medical Freedom Plan is a common sense approach that empowers and protects Ohioans. House Bill 218 was approved by the Ohio House of Representatives by a 58-32 vote.

Wiggam said the bill addresses one of the top concerns of the people of Wayne County.

“At the Statehouse, the question is who decides: government or private citizens? Schools or Moms and Dads? The answer for me is clear: I trust Ohioans to decide what is best for themselves and their family, especially when it comes to matter of health and vaccines,” Wiggam said. 

There are several highlights to the bill, Wiggam said, including empowering Ohio employees and students to refuse any mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations by claiming an exemption for medical reasons, natural immunity as demonstrated by the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, and reasons of personal conscience including religious convictions.

Those same exemptions would also be available for students and employees at Ohio’s public and private schools, colleges and universities. 

A written statement claiming the exemption is all that would be required for students and employees to receive the exemption. The bill also allows for a student or employee to seek relief in the event of a violation, including going to court or filing an employment discrimination claim.

Wiggam said other highlights of the bill include a ban on vaccine passports and prohibiting schools from discriminating against students based on their vaccination status.

Other elements of the bill include:

·         Employees of a children’s hospital, an intensive care or critical care unit of a hospital, would not be able to receive a vaccine exemption, under the bill. However, a hospital must make a good faith attempt to provide equitable employment to an individual who refuses to get a vaccine.

·         Schools and employers would be prohibited from requiring a student or employee to receive a vaccine if it has not been issued a biologics license or otherwise been granted full approval by the FDA.

·         Extends through June 2023 provisions from House Bill 606 (133rd General Assembly) that would protect employers from COVID-19 liability under certain circumstances.

·         Other provisions sunset on September 30, 2025.

House Bill 218 will now head to the Ohio Senate for consideration.