South Carolina lawmakers are actively working to pass a bill in the Senate known as the “Medical Freedom Act”.
The state’s House of Representatives recently passed a bill that aims to prevent businesses, schools, non-profits, and employers from enforcing the requirement of gene-therapy or a novel vaccine that has not been approved by the Department of Public Health on their customers, students, visitors, or employees.
A novel vaccine, as per the bill’s definition, is a vaccine that has not yet received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, has been available on the market for less than 10 years, or was acquired through an Emergency Use Authorization.
Hugo Montanez, the owner of Burgär and Burrito Hub, is a small-business owner based in Spartanburg. He is passionate about the freedom to choose and embraces it wholeheartedly.
Montanez stated that individuals will have the freedom to make their own decisions and take risks, just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Montanez took a bold step and opened Burgär amidst the challenging times when numerous small businesses were forced to close due to social distancing measures.
Struggling to pay rent for Burrito Hub, which opened in 2018, was a real challenge for him in the first three months after the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2 a global health pandemic.
“It was a real eye-opener for me, seeing how life can take a turn for the worse,” Montanez reflected. However, he saw it as a personal gamble, a choice that he made, and it turned out to be a success. He proudly declared that his businesses are now profitable.
Supporting the passage of the Medical Freedom Act is a significant reason for his endorsement.
Montanez emphasized the importance of progressing forward rather than regressing and enforcing new vaccine mandates. He believes that personal success and harmony with others can only be achieved by moving in a forward direction.
According to the bill, if someone commits the offense for the first time, it would be considered a misdemeanor. This can lead to a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine or a maximum of one year in prison. If the offense is repeated for a second time, the penalty increases to a fine of up to $2,500 or a maximum of three years in prison. Finally, if someone commits the offense for a third time, it becomes a felony charge, which can result in a fine of up to $5,000 or a maximum of five years in prison.
Jasmine Williams, a medical student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and a mother who strongly believes in individual autonomy, emphasizes the importance of knowing whether restaurant workers have been vaccinated against contagious diseases. For her, this knowledge would bring a sense of comfort and reassurance when dining out.
According to Williams, the public should be informed by restaurants about any potential risks so that they can make their own decisions.
According to her, if individuals are not comfortable with the idea of dining out, they can explore alternatives like outdoor dining or preparing meals at home.
“I believe that the decision to take a vaccine should be up to me and my healthcare provider,” Williams expressed.