To vaccinate or not? To protect yourself and family and friends or to insist on your freedom to ignore the requirements of public health. Tough call. Wait – not really.

There was a day-long hearing at the Connecticut Capitol today in which people argued over the state’s proposal to remove religious exemptions from mandatory school vaccinations. Most people apparently argued against changing the exemptions.

One of them was quoted as saying, “Religious freedom is not just about the right to worship in a church or synagogue. It’s about not having to violate your core beliefs to culture nor to government.”

Another put her gripe this way: “I cannot imagine the disappointment my son will feel if I have to tell him he will not be able to enroll in camp or school next year because our religion doesn’t matter to the state.”

I’m willing to grant these are sincere expressions from concerned parents. On the other hand, nothing truly infringes on their “freedom” to have their children vaccinated against diseases that can affect the children they come into contact with. Or, does your insistence on freedom to do whatever you want impinge on the majority’s wish to be safe from potentially fatal diseases? I hardly think so.

There’s a lot of political right-wing conservatism running through some of these comments. These are anti-government voices as much if not more than expressions of “religious” rights.

By the way, these proposals do not “force” anyone to be vaccinated (and at this point they don’t involve the Covid vaccine). They do, however, bar un-vaccinated children from attending a public or private school, no matter whether the anti-vaccination decision is a result of a religious or personal belief. So, no don’t get your kid vaccinated if you don’t want to – but don’t expect you will get all the benefits that accrue to kids who do get vaccinated. Like safety.

The claim that vaccines are not safe and cause deaths is simply not grounded in truth. It’s an excuse. For every instance where something like that has occurred there are tens of thousands of instances where nothing of the sort happened. Hundreds of thousands. And more.

So, hold to your beliefs, no matter whether they be based on religion or politics. But in the process don’t endanger the lives of many, many others to protect themselves from your “freedom.” Please.