State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) and State Representative Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) have filed new legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives to protect the rights of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 from being forced to comply with any state or private vaccine mandate when that person can demonstrate natural immunity through a positive COVID antibody test. The legislation is House Bill 4204.
Specifically, the legislation states that any requirement for a person to demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination shall be deemed to be met if proof of the presence of COVID-19 antibodies is provided by that person.
“Unlike the Governor, we believe in actually following the science,” Representative Sosnowski said. “Studies have established that antibodies provide natural immunity to a person who has had COVID-19 for months or even years. Based on this fact, anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated should not be compelled to when they have antibodies. Even though this bill is specific to people with antibodies, I want to be absolutely clear that I am against any and all vaccine mandates. Government should not interfere with any individual’s right to make personal medical decisions for themselves and their children.”
Representative Weber added his perspective by saying: “Scientific studies have proven antibodies are equal if not a more desirable form of protecting someone against COVID-19. Any mandate to vaccinate every person appears to be more about power than protecting others from becoming ill. This bill will allow people to have a choice in their own medical decisions.”
House Bill 4204 was filed by Representative Sosnowski on November 4, with Representative Weber as Chief Co-Sponsor. The Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene on January 4, 2022. Representatives Sosnowski and Weber will push to have a committee hearing scheduled on their bill as soon as possible after the new year.