My comments for the Board of Health

My name is Paul Lunkwitz, FOP President of Nevada C.O. Lodge 21. Our lodge has hundreds of members from both Nevada Department of Corrections(NDOC) and Department of Human Health Services(DHHS). Both agencies will be greatly impacted by a COVID shot mandate. Our members are greatly concerned about losing there right to choose what goes in their bodies. If you take this as a sample size of the 1600 plus members of our departments, their concerns should be taken very seriously. There have been many non members that have voiced the same concerns from across Nevada’s Employees. According to the Governor, roughly 60% of NDOC employees were not vaccinated as of the July, Board of Prison Commissioners meeting. This means that the notoriously difficult to staff Prison system stands to lose more than half of its current workforce, should the state follow through on their threats to terminate the “unvaccinated.” There is strong opposition by a great many employees to forced vaccination. The NDOC does not even force the inmates to be vaccinated. Why is it that inmates who chose to commit crimes and get sentenced to prison have a right to choice, but the NDOC Officers and employees who serve Nevada do not have the same choice? If the inmates are the “vulnerable” population and the COVID shot is so effective, wouldn’t the mandate be more appropriate for them? The Declaration of Independence and various amendments offer United States Citizens the right to pursue liberty free from duress. The Merriam-Webster definition of liberty is as follows:

Definition of liberty (Entry 1 of 2) 1: the quality or state of being free:a: the power to do as one pleasesb: freedom from physical restraintc: freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see DESPOT sense 1) controld: the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privilegese: the power of choice 2a: a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant : PRIVILEGEb: permission especially to go freely within specified limitswas given the liberty of the house 3: an action going beyond normal limits: such asa: a breach of etiquette or propriety : FAMILIARITYtook undue liberties with a strangerb: RISK, CHANCEtook foolish liberties with his healthc: a violation of rules or a deviation from standard practicetook liberties in the way he played the gamed: a distortion of factThe movie takes many liberties with the actual events. 4: a short authorized absence from naval duty usually for less than 48 hours at liberty1: FREE 2: at leisure : UNOCCUPIED We as US Citizens have the right to employment free from coercion and duress. As stated in the definition above, liberty means freedom from arbitrary or despotic control. This is exactly what is going on here. Forcing someone to take a shot that has no long term studies of the effects it has on a person or face termination from their employment, is irresponsible and against everything that this nation was built to ensure. Even though we have seen legitimate reports of people being vaccinated and having adverse effects or dying as a result, these concerns are ignored by those who believe in the COVID shot. When you look on the CDC website they show just over 7200 deaths after vaccination reported through VAERS. They put an uninspiring disclaimer saying that, "A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines. However, recent reports indicate a plausible causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and TTS, a rare and serious adverse event—blood clots with low platelets—which has caused deaths “ In the NDOC, a Lieutenant in Carson City received the shot and subsequently had issues with his platelets. The Lieutenant was placed in ICU due to his lungs filling with blood. Upon transfer to a hospital in California, it was related by a doctor, that this issue was due to the “vaccine.” This Lieutenant still has not regained his ability to speak 6 months after the incident. I am not disputing that the shot can have positive effects, but ignoring the adverse effects is not justifiable. If the Death rate from COVID is less than 1% and the adverse effects rate is less than 1 %, why is there such a scary narrative being used to force people to get the shot? The bottom line is that you can still get COVID, spread COVID, and die from COVID, once “vaccinated.” People should have the choice on whether they want to take the shot or face COVID on their own terms, just like the so called “vulnerable” population of inmates. As defined in NRS 288.150, employee safety is a mandatory bargaining subject. This issue has not been bargained and was not part of the collective bargaining agreement that went into effect July 1st, 2021. This brings an additional legal issue into play, but there are far more legal issues to come. Is this board ready to take on the burden of litigation that’s sure to come in the future? Is the Governor, Director of the NDOC, and other administrators prepared to put their livelihood on the line? You have a choice to make, do we coerce employees into getting a shot that has no long term studies on side effects? On the other hand do we allow employees to make their own decisions as to their individual health concerns? According to the stories in the media and statements by the current President, if you have the vaccine you are safe. Why then are the vaccinated concerned about those who will encounter a difficult time of fighting COVID? Again, if the “vulnerable” populations are at risk, but they can choose not to take the shot, the same choice is due to those who showed up from the very beginning of the pandemic and are still here protecting Nevada. We strongly oppose any COVID shot mandate. Thank you for your careful consideration. Paul Lunkwitz