Proposed Bill Would Allow Prior Covid Infection to Satisfy Vaccination Requirements

TRENTON – New legislation could allow a person’s naturally developed immunity, resulting from a prior Covid infection, to satisfy vaccination requirements, without requiring inoculation. 
The bill, introduced by Sen. Michael Testa (R-1st) and Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-26th),would cover vaccination requirements imposed on workplaces, schools or any other entity in the state, according to a release from Testa’s office.
“Real people are being fired, kicked out of college, and discriminated against in various ways due to vaccine mandates imposed by Gov. [Phil] Murphy and others,” Testa stated in the release. 
According to the senators, a growing body of scientific evidence supports incorporating the consideration of natural immunity into public policy, which could impact nearly 1.2 million New Jerseyans who have had confirmed or likely cases of Covid, as reported by the state dashboard.
Dr. Marty Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, pointed to more than 15 significant studies demonstrating how “the emerging science suggests that natural immunity is as good as or better than vaccine-induced immunity” in a recent Washington Post editorial that the senators referenced.
“We don’t think anyone should be discriminated against due to their vaccination status, personal health decisions, or desire for medical privacy,” Pennacchio stated. 
The legislation would allow entities to accept a person’s verbal confirmation that they have natural immunity due to a prior Covid infection to satisfy any vaccination or testing requirement that may be imposed as a condition of employment or to receive services, participate in activities, attend school or college, or gain admission to a place or venue, the release states. 
However, the bill would not supersede any federal laws, rules, or orders requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to enter a facility, the senators acknowledged.