Virginians debate whether virus vaccine should be mandatory

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Some Virginians differ on whether the coronavirus vaccine should be mandatory when it becomes available.

That’s even though the federal government is asking states to prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine within months.

Virginia Freedom Keepers is a nonprofit that advocates for medical freedom. It gathered in Richmond this week for a “March Against Mandates” in protest of the statewide mask mandate, as well as a potential vaccine mandate.

Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver said in a recent interview with ABC-8 that if he is still Virginia’s acting health commissioner when a COVID-19 vaccine is made available, he will make immunization mandatory.

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