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Georgia senators vote to bar COVID-19 vaccine requirements

FILE - Middle school student Elise Robinson receives a coronavirus vaccination on May 12, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. A bill passed on Wednesday, Feb, 1 2023, by a Georgia Senate committee would ban public schools, local governments or state agencies from requiring people to get the COVID-19 vaccine before they could attend school or receive government services. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)
Ron Harris/AP
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AP
FILE - Middle school student Elise Robinson receives a coronavirus vaccination on May 12, 2021, in Decatur, Ga. A bill passed on Wednesday, Feb, 1 2023, by a Georgia Senate committee would ban public schools, local governments or state agencies from requiring people to get the COVID-19 vaccine before they could attend school or receive government services. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)

Georgia senators have voted to permanently block schools and most state and local government agencies from requiring people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Senate voted 31-21 for Senate Bill 1 on Tuesday, sending it to the House for more debate. Georgia had enacted a one-year ban last year.

Republicans Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming says the government shouldn’t be able to force anyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine, or refuse services to people who are unvaccinated. Democrats say that Republicans are feeding anti-vaccine sentiment and that there's no guarantee the virus will stay less lethal.