South Carolina bill would make it illegal to ask vaccine status

Republican lawmakers in South Carolina introduced legislation to make it illegal for employers to ask about coronavirus vaccination status, saying it’s private medical information.

The bill’s author said the legislation is needed because unvaccinated individuals are suffering real-world consequences.

“We have people in South Carolina that are losing their jobs because they have to report to their employer that they’re unvaccinated,” bill sponsor Rep. Mike Burns told Fox News Digital. “We also have people who are having their insurance rates put in a different category. They’re charging up to an extra $100 a week more than the vaccinated people. It is absolutely insane to do this kind of thing.”

The legislation, H. 4848, was introduced on Jan. 20. The bill would make it a criminal offense for any employer, business, nonprofit or public entity to ask about someone’s COVID-19 vaccination status.