Though some citizens across the nation may have already forgotten the subsided flu-like coronavirus, many government officials are still using it as an excuse to enact new discriminatory rules.
In an email obtained by Texas Scorecard, Midland Independent School District informed parents that their high-schoolers will need to get injected with the experimental coronavirus vaccinations in order to participate in certain classes at the town’s public community college.
“In the school year of 2022-2023 and beyond, Midland College requires students in the Health Sciences Program of Study to have the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 vaccination before entering the ninth grade course, Principles of Health Science. A waiver for the vaccination will not be accepted by Midland College,” read the email.
“We encourage students who are no longer interested in the Health Sciences Program of Study due to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination requirement to review the MISD Program of Study List to discover other Programs of Study options,” the email continued. “We want all students to have the opportunity to make needed changes to their 2022-2023 course selections by the May 10th deadline. … Opt-In/Opt-Out Form completion will communicate to MISD whether your child will/will not receive the COVID Vaccination by 6/1/22.”
Texas Scorecard reached out to Midland College for comment, and Associate Dean of Health Sciences Wendy Wood-Collins responded.
“COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement of health science facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes as per Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),” wrote Wood-Collins. “Some of our health science programs use such sites for clinical rotations as outlined in the student’s learning experience. We are obligated to be compliant with the clinical site requirements. This will only affect the students who take health science courses that use such clinical sites.”
Midland College joins other state taxpayer-funded universities, such as Texas A&M and UT Tyler, that have attempted to mandate the shots on students and employees, though the guidelines remain unclear since the Texas Legislature did not do anything to address the issue.
Last year, the Republican-controlled Legislature did pass a state law to ban “vaccine passports” (showing your vaccination status in order to enter a business), but they declined to pass a law to protect citizens from mask and vaccine mandates—and Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly refused to reconvene lawmakers to complete the work.
Citizens across the state continue to call on Abbott and Republican lawmakers to act.
