By HANNAH BLEAU
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) administration is forcing all educators and staff in the state to get vaccinated for the Chinese coronavirus, Brown announced on Thursday.
Claiming to follow the science, Brown touted the importance of ensuring that schools are open and offered two “keys” to ensure students are safe: Masks and vaccines.
Because of that, she ordered the Oregon Health Authority to issue a rule mandating teachers, staff, and volunteers to be vaccinated by October 18 “or six weeks from FDA approval, whichever is later.”
“There are those who will disagree with the actions I am taking today. But school is starting across the state. COVID-19 poses a threat to our kids, and our kids need to be protected,” she said, stating she is “willing to take the heat for it.”
“We stood together for nurses, doctors, and health care workers. We saved lives by following science and data,” she continued, failing to mention that many nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers in blue states now face an ultimatum: Either get vaccinated or lose their job.
“I’m asking you to do it again for our health care heroes, vulnerable community members, and Oregon’s kids,” she continued.
“Our best tools to keep our schools, businesses, and communities open are wearing masks and getting vaccinated,” Brown added:
As always, we are following science in implementing health and safety protocols. And while we are still learning about the Delta variant, we know from previous experience that when schools open with safety measures in place, the risk of transmission is low.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) August 19, 2021
That’s why I’ve directed the Oregon Health Authority to issue a rule requiring all teachers, educators, support staff, and volunteers in K-12 schools to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19––again by October 18, or six weeks from FDA approval, whichever is later.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) August 19, 2021
I know we had all hoped that we could put the challenges of 2020 behind us. But after the last year and a half, I also know what we are capable of when we work together. We stood together for nurses, doctors, and health care workers. We saved lives by following science and data.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) August 19, 2021
As of Wednesday, Oregon reported 850 hospitalized coronavirus patients, and while reports indicate the majority are unvaccinated, the vaccinated are also among them.
Brown’s rule comes as other states, including California and New York, mandate healthcare workers get the vaccine — a move that has triggered an outcry from the general public in recent days.