HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Almost everyone has an opinion on the topic: should hospitals, schools, places of work - mandate people to take the COVID-19 vaccine?
"I think they should have the freedom to make that choice and especially being in America, we fought so much for our freedom," said Harry Parham, a Huntsville resident.
One reporter spoke with others who declined an on-camera interview but their sentiments were similar... that people should be able to make that choice for themselves and that the vaccine was rushed...
"It's a drug that hasn't even, you know, been approved officially, so, considering that - you should have a choice," said Parham.
Last year, on December 11, the FDA issued the first emergency use authorization for COVID vaccines, a special authorization that allows use in emergencies, such as a global pandemic.
Alabama Assistant State Health Officer, Dr. Karen Landers, says that because vaccines were authorized this way, it's hard to mandate them.
"Pfizer has applied for really full authorization. It is currently under emergency use authorization, but they have applied for full authorization. I do expect Moderna to do the same thing and, again, other vaccines as time goes by. Vaccines that are under emergency use authorization, are not really vaccines that can potentially be mandated in all circumstances," said Landers.
But she does recognize that people working in the medical field have a responsibility to keep others safe from the virus although the vaccine is not mandated here in Alabama.
"Now we do recognize that persons that are working in high-risk entities such as hospitals, that hospitals might look at policies within their agency, or within their entity. In order to protect very high-risk persons again, we have to remember not everyone has the same immune response to COVID, and also to protect the ability of that facility," said Landers.
Despite the differing opinions, health experts still strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated.