Senate Bill 295, filed by Smithfield Senator Lindsey Tichenor, is being billed as a medical freedom measure.
In a statement, Tichenor argues Kentucky citizens were "forced to make compromising health decisions in order to retain their employment, gain access to medical treatment, or to enroll in schools during the response to the pandemic." The bill would block compulsory COVID or mRNA-based vaccinations in those instances.
The lawmaker goes on to call the vaccines "ineffective" and "dangerous."
“SB 295 represents a pivotal step in addressing the complexities surrounding vaccination mandates and underscores the importance of preserving individual liberties in the face of public health challenges,” Tichenor wrote.
The largest study to date of COVID vaccine safety looked at nearly 100 million vaccinated people across eight countries. The World Health Organization's Global Vaccine Data Network examined 13 medical conditions, including myocarditis, convulsion, and Guillain-Barré syndrome — and found elevated risks associated with the vaccines.
Even with the findings, however, researchers concluded the risks from COVID-19 itself remain much higher than the risks of adverse events.
