Georgia senators vote to bar COVID-19 vaccine requirements

Middle school student Elise Robinson receives a coronavirus vaccination on May 12, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. A bill passed on Wednesday, Feb, 1 2023, by a Georgia Senate committee would ban public schools, local governments or state agencies from requiring people to get the COVID-19 vaccine before they could attend school or receive government services. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)

Georgia senators voted Tuesday to permanently block schools and most state and local government agencies from requiring people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Senate voted 31-21 in favor of the bill, which would make permanent what had been a one-year ban enacted in 2022.

Sen. Greg Dolezal, a Republican from Cumming who is sponsoring the measure, said that when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine at least, the government shouldn’t be able to force anyone to get it, or refuse services to people who are unvaccinated.