Bill Overview
Title: CONSCIENCE Act
Description: This bill generally prohibits state and local governmental COVID-19 vaccine mandates that do not provide religious exemptions. The bill applies to any mandates adopted before, on, or after the bill's date of enactment.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with religious objections to COVID-19 vaccines
Estimated Size: 30000000
- COVID-19 vaccination mandates have been widely implemented across various states and localities, impacting millions of people.
- Certain individuals have religious objections to vaccines, which can include not just followers of specific religions but also people with personal beliefs related to vaccine contents or testing.
- The bill will impact these individuals by potentially broadening their ability to refuse vaccination based on religious grounds.
- Although exact global data on religious objections is limited, it is estimated that a significant minority of people in vaccinated countries may seek such exemptions.
Reasoning
- The CONSCIENCE Act primarily impacts individuals who would benefit from religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
- A significant minority in the U.S. may seek exemption due to religious or personal beliefs against vaccines.
- The budget constraints suggest coverage should focus on these individuals, particularly in states with strict mandates that lack current exemptions.
- Not all individuals eligible for religious exemptions will necessarily change their current stance on vaccination, leading to a range of impacts from none (for those who are already exempt or without objection) to high (for those facing mandates without exemption).
- The simulated interviews cover diverse demographic profiles, capturing a broad spectrum of potential policy impacts.
Simulated Interviews
School Teacher (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe vaccines are important, but it should be a personal choice.
- Having a religious exemption could give me peace of mind if mandates increase.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I felt pressured to get the vaccine but wasn’t comfortable with it.
- I appreciate policies that respect individual beliefs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Florida)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a healthcare worker, mandates are tough but necessary.
- A religious exemption might help some, but I'd still opt for safety first.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Business Owner (New York)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support others having the choice to opt-out if it’s against their beliefs.
- This law might help people feel more secure in their decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Freelancer (Illinois)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I value religious freedom highly, but I also believe in collective health measures.
- I'm torn because both autonomy and safety are important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Kentucky)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe individuals should decide what's injected into their bodies.
- I've lived a healthy life; I don't want mandates infringing upon that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
College Student (Georgia)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not against vaccines but prefer them to be optional for religious reasons.
- A policy supporting exemptions aligns with my personal and religious values.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Nurse (Michigan)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe strongly in following science and public health guidelines.
- While I understand religious freedoms, I'm concerned about community safety if too many opt-out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Idaho)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Religious beliefs are very important in my family.
- I feel relieved knowing laws protect our choices regarding vaccines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Truck Driver (Missouri)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m neutral on the topic, but everyone should be allowed their freedom to choose.
- This law might be good for those deeply affected by mandates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $105000000, High: $205000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $210000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $220000000)
Year 10: $190000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $240000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between safeguarding individual rights and maintaining public health safety depends heavily on compliance and how outbreaks are managed.
- Legal challenges and state resistance to federal intervention could affect the pace and cost of implementation.
- Potential increases in healthcare costs due to lower vaccination rates need to be considered.