As if flu season were not already bad enough, New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are seeking to prohibit vaccination clinics in public schools during school hours.
House Bill 1449 limits the times vaccine clinics can be held at schools and requires parents or legal guardians to be present with their child during the administration of vaccinations at such a clinic.
There seems to be a pattern of right-wing political figures proposing legislation that they believe is “protecting children,” yet I would argue vaccines mostly benefit children by protecting them from illnesses.
“The state Department of Health and Human Services stopped funding the school-based clinics due to ‘ongoing changes in federal funding,’” said state health department spokesperson Kathleen Remillard, according to New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR).
“As a result, the 13 regional public health networks that used that money to hold clinics aren’t offering them this school year,” continued NHPR.
Children under 19 can still receive their routine vaccinations for free through doctors’ offices, urgent cares and pharmacies, according to Remillard. However, there are many circumstances in which those may not be feasible options for parents.
There is the added convenience of having your child vaccinated at school. Especially for parents who work full-time jobs and have no vehicle, so their child takes the bus.
“Damian Santana, of Granite United Way’s Capital Area Health Network, said his team provided flu vaccine clinics for 14 New Hampshire schools last year,” according to NHPR.
NHPR went on to say, “Other public health networks did the same.”
While that is only about 3% of the 494 reported public schools by the National Center for Education Statistics for the 2021-2022 school year, that is an estimated 4,818 students out of the 170,005 enrolled for that academic year. 4,818 students who may have previously received their vaccines at school now have to find another way to do so. Who’s to say those students and their families will be able to go the extra mile to get vaccinated? I, for one, did not even get my flu shot this year as I was unable to find the time in my busy schedule.
Santana told NHPR, “school-based clinics were well received by parents because they made it easy to have their child vaccinated against the flu, and students who were nervous about getting shots appreciated having a school nurse they knew with them.”
I know when I was younger, I dreaded the doctor, as did my sister and my friends at the time. Children will kick and scream getting their shots because needles can certainly seem a lot scarier when you are small. Having a friendly face can make all the difference, especially if your friend is getting their shot too.
This is not the only anti-vaccination bill being pursued at the State House. HB 1719 would eliminate the Hepatitis B vaccine, which is still recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for all infants, all children and adolescents younger than 19 who have not been vaccinated.
HB 1022, “would make it easier for parents to exempt their children from vaccine requirements for religious reasons,” says NHPR.
I struggle to understand those who use their religion to back their opposition to vaccines. Perhaps it is because I am not religious myself, but I also strongly believe in science.
“Vaccines are safe, effective and life-saving,” according to the World Health Organization.
Those who choose not to vaccinate their child, whether it’s due to religious beliefs or different reasons, are actively putting their child in harm’s way. If a vaccine can provide even the slightest protection for your child against a sickness or disease, why would you not jump at the opportunity?
A fourth bill, HB 1811, aimed to eliminate all childhood vaccine requirements. Funny how the same republicans proposing this legislation claim their only goal is to “protect the kids,” yet they seem to want them to get chicken pox.
Thankfully, this bill was defeated in the NH House of Representatives 192-155 with members of both parties voting against it, as reported by NHPR.
I hope the NH government will truly care about the children in our state someday, but with anti-vaccine, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-education laws being passed, they certainly don’t care enough right now.
Madelyn Marabella can be contacted at
