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To the Editor:

We read the article in the paper “Virginia public colleges can mandate vaccines, attorney general says,” and understand that the attorney general may interpret it as legal though that does not make it right. The article goes on to share that some believe that Virginia should require COVID-19 vaccines for Virginia public university students. While we welcome their opinion, we disagree with their views. We believe Virginia should not mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for Virginia public university students. A mandate is authoritarian, and this is a personal health matter that should be left to the individual. The individual should have the right to decide what they want or do not want to put into their bodies. There are many who have taken these vaccines and risked the potential consequences though they have no right to demand this of others. It is shown that the age group they are recommending this for has an extremely high rate of recovery from the COVID-19 virus. Hence one would think they do not need to take such unnecessary risks of such vaccines. If someone wants the vaccine and feel comfortable with it for themselves that is fine, but they should not try to impose their views on our children’s health.

Jonathan Varnell

Elm City, NC

Native of Southampton County