Vaccine heart reaction problems, court fines anti-mask store owner, federal money for COVID-related stress

In the past week, the Vermont Health Department addressed COVID vaccines and heart inflammation, the governor saw his vetoes overturned on letting noncitizens vote, and a court ordered a store owner to pay $850 for violating the coronavirus mask mandate.

Heart problems after COVID shots

Michael Bielawski/TNR

NO MORE MASKS: Even while the mask mandate has been lifted by the governor, the state and a store owner had to work out disputes in court over the legality of the mandate.

The Vermont Department of Health put out a release responding to concerns that some may have experienced heart inflammation after getting their COVID-19 shots.

“Getting COVID-19 puts you at far more risk of heart problems, in addition to many other health risks,” wrote Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine. “This is why it’s so important to protect yourself, and your family, by getting vaccinated. And with more dangerous variants of the virus circulating, now is the time to do it. Overwhelmingly, the new cases of COVID in this country related to the Delta variant are in unvaccinated people.”

The CDC last week revised its fact sheets on the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to state that they increase the “risks of myocarditis and pericarditis [both concerning the heart] following vaccination.”

The Vermont release continues that “The panel of experts [the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] said this is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination.”

National stories include an 18-year-old from Springdale, Arkansas, Isaiah Harris speaking with The Defender last week said he’d “rather have COVID than a heart attack” after suffering a heart attack within 48 hours of receiving his second COVID shot in April.

‘Your Cambridge MA’ posted to #VtPoli on Twitter on Saturday that a young person in Michigan recently passed away after a COVID shot.

Newport mask fight update

On Thursday the Orleans Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout ordered the owner of Derby Port Press, Andre “Michael” Desautels, to pay $850 in fines for not enforcing Republican Governor Phil Scott’s mask mandate during the past year’s shutdown orders.

Teachout had determined that Desautels’ actions were “testing the validity of both that law and its application” but nonetheless warrant a fine.

On June 3, Desautels’ attorney Robert Kaplan wrote that the executive branch had overstepped its reach with its mask orders.

“The executive branch of government may not be granted the authority to both make and enforce laws,” he wrote. He also argued that Vermont’s Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling should have declared COVID-19 an “all-hazards event” before the governor could declare the state of emergency status.

All of the governor’s COVID-19-related shutdown orders were rescinded statewide recently but individual establishments may still require masks on their own accord.

Federal money for COVID stress

According to the Vermont Department of Health, there will be more federal funds available to those who are experiencing COVID-related stress as society now completely reopens from its lockdowns that included required mask-wearing and social distancing in public for 15 months.

“COVID Support VT has been granted a six-month extension to continue through December — enabling access to support as Vermonters grapple with the stress of re-opening uncertainties and ambiguity,” the release states.

“… As re-engagement brings new challenges to Vermonters’ mental health and well-being, COVID Support VT has been granted a six-month extension to continue through December — enabling access to support as Vermonters grapple with the stress of re-opening uncertainties and ambiguity.”

Mainstream media outlets are now talking about the next “COVID delta variant” which has been “discovered in India where it provoked an extreme surge in Covid cases before spreading around the world, with cases now rapidly rising in the U.S.,” the CNBC report states.

Dr. Levine also continues to pressure those who haven’t taken a COVID-19 vaccine to hurry and get one or the virus will come back.

“Overwhelmingly, the new cases of COVID in this country related to the Delta variant are in unvaccinated people,” he wrote.

Veto overrides

The governor saw two vetos of bills to recognize charter changes to Montpelier and Winooski which is to allow illegal aliens to vote in local elections, including those that may impact statewide school budgets.

Rep. Arthur Peterson, R-Clarendon, told his colleagues that the Vermont Constitution includes “chapter 2, paragraph 42 which clearly states that to vote you must be a citizen of the United States,” he said.

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

Images courtesy of Public domain and Michael Bielawski/TNR