Which state lawmakers want the COVID-19 vaccine, which don’t?

COLUMBUS — While the nation is undertaking the largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history, several Ohio lawmakers said they’re taking a pass.

This newspaper asked 16 representatives and five senators from the Miami Valley if they would be vaccinated against COVID-19. Six of them said no; 11 said yes and four either declined to answer or didn’t respond.

“I don’t trust the vaccine. Basically, the whole COVID thing is bogus. I think it’s real, like the flu, but it’s not a pandemic,” said state Rep. Bill Dean, R-Xenia, who says he won’t be vaccinated.

As of mid-March, nearly 1 million Ohioans have been infected by the coronavirus, leading to more than 51,800 hospitalizations and more than 18,100 deaths. Scientific studies show COVID19 has a higher mortality rate than influenza in nearly all age groups and COVID-19 survivors are more likely to suffer from lingering symptoms.

State Rep. Nino Vitale, R-Urbana,

refused to say whether he would get the shot to protect against COVID-19. “I’ve never vaccinated any of my kids,” he said.

Childhood vaccinations protect individuals and the public at large against serious infectious diseases including polio, mumps, measles, whooping cough and tetanus.

“I’m not planning on getting it,” said state Rep. Rodney Creech, R-West Alexandria. “I trust my body to fight off what it needs to fight off.”

State Sen. George Lang, R-West Chester, who previously had COVID-19, said he’s heard too many negative stories, and the virus doesn’t seem as deadly as