Encouraging the residents to follow the science and health organizations on Covid-19 Vaccinations, and condemning propagation of the falsehoods regarding the science and recommendations regarding Covid-19 Vaccinations

WHERAS, the Old Bridge Township Council as governing body of the Township of Old Bridge has promulgated Resolution 21-078 opposing all efforts by Federal, State, County and Local Government agencies and health organizations to mandate vaccinations under false and misleading and/or inflammatory pretense and use of political rhetoric; and

WHEREAS, the effusion of non-existent facts, political fodder by use of powers of the Governing body and/or into public domain is against the best interest of health and general public; and

WHEREAS, the truth of the mater is that no mandate requiring vaccinations has been issued or exists; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey and the United States of America, and the entire world are in the middle of a pandemic caused by COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2; and

WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), together with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and World Health Organization (WHO), have studied the SARS-CoV-2 and the science regarding use of vaccinations to prevent severe disease and illness in the general population; and

WHEREAS, the FDA and the CDC have conducted numerous reviews on technology used to produce various vaccines now approved, including the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals over 16 years of age and older, and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved for individuals of 18 years and older; and

WHEREAS, each of the Agencies have reviewed that data related to the trials and the effectiveness of the vaccines; and

WHEREAS, administration of the vaccines began in December of 2020. Since that time, over 66 million American Citizens have been vaccinated: and

WHEREAS, scientific experts at the FDA, CDC, and WHO, have testified to the technology and effectiveness of the vaccines and the data supporting the trials; and

WHEREAS, since the beginning of the Pandemic in February of 2020, there have been over 500,000 lives lost and millions of infections leading to serious disease and long-term health impacts for many Americans; and

WHEREAS, there have been millions of lives lost worldwide; and

WHEREAS, mass vaccination is the safest and most effective tool presented by science to combat the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; and

WHEREAS, the recommendations have remained unchanged from the CDC, FDA, and WHO, after millions of injections worldwide; and

WHEREAS, the decision to take a vaccine remains an individual’s decision to be made on information and by and between a doctor and patient and takes into consideration many risk factors including the patient’s age, comorbidities, exposure risk and potential for any side effects; and

WHERAS, no government agency has mandated anyone to take the vaccine; and

WHEREAS, it remains an individual’s choice based on an individual’s health and medical rights to privacy; and

WHERAS, no mandates have been issued regarding any child and/or school; and

WHEREAS, certain right wing conspiracy theories have been falsely promulgated to political ends; and

WHERAS, Americans working together, standing together, following in the protocols of science, including washing hands, wearing masks and socially distancing have proven to be effective and bring down contagion rates; and

WHEREAS, vaccinations and antigen production from infections and vaccinations have served to assist in breaking the curve from spread of the coronavirus; and

WHEREAS, the most vulnerable citizens, with comorbidities, age, and health problems are at severe risk; and

WHEREAS, it is essential for the American way of life to get the economy and schools re-opened; and

WHEREAS, the decision has remained an individual’s decision, and supports that decisions not to take vaccine are left to the individual as recommended by the CDC, FDA, and WHO; and

NOW THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Old Bridge Township Democratic County Committee, that it does hereby condemn the use of fear tactics and attempts by the Old Bridge Township Council to misinform the public and politicize the use of vaccines in the middle of the current pandemic.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is in the best interests of Old Bridge residents and the public to promote advancement of information in a truthful manner and refrain from support furthering unsupported conspiracy theories or falsities.

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVERD to support the recommendation for vaccinations of all eligible persons by the recommendations of the CDC, FDA, and WHO.

FURTHER, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED to support of the Federal, State, County and Local government agencies and health authorities in providing information and access to all health care providers and individuals about the vaccine and taking the vaccine; and

THEREFORE, this organization does vigorously oppose the rhetoric put forth in Resolution 21-078 “Resolution of the Old Bridge Township Council in Opposing Forced COVID-19 Vaccination”, seeking to miscommunicate the facts to deter information dissemination, seeking to deter individuals from consulting with their health care providers and obtaining the vaccine, and finally seeking to promote further systemic worries and concerns.