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* UPDATED x1 * Dowell says she would require all secretary of state campaign workers to be vaxed

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* From Ald. Pat Dowell, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state…

My campaign for Illinois Secretary of State will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The pandemic has taken its toll in my community and all across Illinois. Every day, I learn of more people losing loved ones to this virus. Everyone must get vaccinated. It is the way to stop the pandemic.

I appreciate that Governor JB Pritzker and his campaign team are taking a strong stand by believing in science and trusting medical experts. I am proud to join him in this fight for the health and safety of the people of Illinois.

I’ll be asking the other campaigns for their reacts.

Your thoughts?

…Adding… Fixed my headline because I need much more coffee. Sorry! I even asked the wrong campaign person for a react earlier. Sheesh! Not sure what’s wrong with me today, but I may need a nap.

And, yes, Secretary White has mandated vaccines for employees already, but the testing opt-out is not exactly strong…

Employees who don’t show proof of vaccination by Sept. 1 will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test every other week, White said.

*** UPDATE *** Anna Valencia…

“Since the City Clerk’s office returned in June 2020, we have been providing crucial essential services since and have done everything to protect constituents doing business with the office. Much like other personnel decisions during the pandemic, we’re working with our partners in labor to ensure we implement vaccination standards in a way that makes sense for our workers and customers. As the only person in the race who has had to manage a large government entity which interacts with our most vulnerable citizens during the pandemic, I know that this policy is the very least we can do. I will also have the same policy on our campaign.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 9:57 am

Comments

Is she requiring everyone employed by her campaign to be vaxxed, or is she promising that if elected, all SOS employees will be required to be vaccinated? Big difference.

Comment by phocion Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:06 am
Um, hasn’t Secretary White already announced a vaccination requirement for all his employees?

Also even though SOS employees are mostly SEIU, I think AFSCME 31 should also be asked to give their reaction to Dowell’s statement.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:07 am
Good for Pat Dowell. This is the definition of a “no-brainer.” And while I know that Jim Durkin doesn’t want to talk about this issue, the GOP candidates seem intent on keeping it front and center. With Covid continuing to dominate the headlines and a minority drawing a line in the sand around vaccines (and masks) this is low hanging fruit for any and all Democratic candidates.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:08 am
-no brainer- for Dems
Agree. This sets up a referendum on masks and vaccinations for the final election. I hope we blow past the loud result in California.

Comment by froganon Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:19 am
How about anyone who wants a driver’s license?

Comment by Dori Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:26 am
=== How about===

No. Let the workplace and educational institutions handle that.

Interesting take by Dowell.

As a candidate, how does the campaign feel about being leaders and being fully vaccinated first?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:29 am
===As a candidate, how does the campaign feel about being leaders and being fully vaccinated first?===

The question *each* campaign needs to answer as Dowell did.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:32 am
===hasn’t Secretary White already announced a vaccination requirement for all his employees?===

It’s a bit on the weaker side.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:32 am
Rich, as a fire chief once said “Some days you’re gonna make parking lots, and there’s not a da*n thing you can do about it.” Go take that nap and regroup. Politics will be here when you come back.

To the post: Dowell is hardly gonna win the SoS job on vaccines.

Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 10:54 am
“Employees who don’t show proof of vaccination by Sept. 1 will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test every other week, White said.”

This testing protocol is meaningless. If someone is infected a day or two after a negative test, they could be infecting others in the workplace for almost two weeks.

Comment by Steve Polite Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 11:00 am
==It’s a bit on the weaker side.==

I agree. I prefer the “get vaccinated or get fired” type of requirement.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 11:08 am
=Dowell is hardly gonna win the SoS job on vaccines.=

I think that’s a given, particularly in the primary as I expect that each of her opponents will take a similar stance. But as a party this will a useful wedge issue in the general. For the ILGOP to energize it’s base, it has to continue to follow this absurd path on vaccines. And in doing so they’ll simply be reinforcing a viewpoint that is held by a minority of voters in Illinois. It’s a polarizing issue that the ILGOP is on the wrong side of. Jim Durkin knows that but he’s hardly in charge.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 11:24 am
Only the worst people exploit medical ignorance for personal gain.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 1:18 pm
Two week test-out is unacceptable. Even a week is too long. And when Moderna is fully approved, then require it without test out, as well as mandating Pfizer now.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 1:38 pm
There should be an opt-out for folx who already got immunized by COVID.

Comment by Sharia Capo Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:21 pm
===There should be an opt-out===

Who’s gonna pay for the multiple antibody tests?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:22 pm
=There should be an opt-out for folx who already got immunized by COVID.=

Why would there be? Doctors aren’t making this recommendation.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:25 pm
===we’re working with our partners in labor to ensure we implement vaccination standards in a way that makes sense for our workers and customers.===

So, in other words… you have no policy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:26 pm
“Who’s gonna pay for the multiple antibody tests?”

Why should there be any at that point? Reinfections are only a fraction of the “breakthrough” rate.

Comment by Sharia Capo Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:30 pm
===Why should there be any at that point?===

Can you cite a medical opinion that makes your ridiculous statement true here?

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:31 pm
===Can you cite? [snip]===
Of course, I could. There are as many opinions as doctors. But my statement on reinfection holds.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262415v1.full.pdf

Comment by Sharia Capo Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:38 pm
Hmm…

===Caution: Preprints are preliminary reports of work that have not been certified by peer review. They should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.===

That’s not a cite.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Any comment on the vax mandate, Alexi?

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Sep 17, 21 @ 4:08 pm