TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Senator Michael Testa today criticized a Phil Murphy Department of Health memo that called for punitive action in the form of extracurricular activity bans for unvaccinated school children. That memo called for unvaccinated students to be barred from participating in extracurricular activities including sports, band, and social clubs until they received their full vaccination regimen which now includes two doses and a booster shot.
“It’s past time that Gov. Murphy and Trenton bureaucrats keep away from our kids and let parents do their jobs,” Testa said.
Many view the governor’s latest assault on the unvaccinated as a form of punishment against families who choose to not vaccinate their children with a vaccine that received emergency use authorization but has so far been ineffective at stopping the spread of the omicron variant of the virus.
Tens of thousands of fully vaccinated and boosted New Jersey residents are contracting and transmitting the COVID-19 virus, including Murphy’s own wife, Tammy. Tammy Murphy is fully vaccinated and fully boosted, yet tested positive this week after returning from a Central American family vacation over the Christmas break.
Testa is one of the leading Republicans to run for governor in 2025.