Reps. Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, and Dan Bishop have called on the Republican leadership of the House Energy and Commerce and Oversight and Reform Committees to investigate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s “politicized” COVID-19 child vaccine vote.
In a letter, the Republicans urged them to “immediately begin investigations, host hearings, and hold accountable those involved in politically motivated decisions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The lawmakers addressed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recent unanimous vote to include the COVID-19 vaccine on the children’s vaccine schedule.
“This recent decision by the CDC to include COVID-19 vaccines in the childhood vaccine schedule—and thereby pressuring states to implement this recommendation—should be questioned and fully scrutinized by Congress,” the letter says. “No child should ever be faced with losing his or her education over a clearly and undeniably politicized vaccine.”
The letter continued, “every parent should have the full freedom to choose whether it makes sense for his or her child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Decisions such as these are personal and do not require the ‘recommendation’ of the federal government. Notably, the Biden Administration has continually shown that it believes the government is a better decision-maker for children than parents and legal guardians.”
Rep. Roy and his colleagues cited CDC demographic data showing that” COVID-19 poses an exceptionally low risk of hospitalization or death to children,” as well as scientific literature that reports “higher risk of adverse events associated with the vaccine, such as myocarditis.”
The letter stated that in this light, “the CDC’s decision to recommend mass COVID-19 vaccination raises serious concerns about the implications for American children’s health and well-being, as well as education outcomes arising from mandates.”
“As you consider the numerous failures of the public health apparatus, we strongly urge you to immediately investigate and hold to account the people responsible for brazen political decisions with the potential to impact our children with irreversible harm,” the letter concluded. “The U.S. government should respect the decisions of American families, and not pressure States to issue an ultimatum that jeopardizes children’s access to primary and secondary education. Congress should ensure this is the case.”