Judge rules mother can’t see her son until she is vaccinated

"There are children who have died because of COVID"

A judge has stopped mother Rebecca Firlit from seeing her 11-year-old son because she has not got the COVID-19 vaccine. The Chicago judge stripped Firlit of all her parenting rights until she receives the vaccine. However, the mum claims she cannot get the vaccine because of her medical history. She told the Chicago Sun-Times: “I’ve had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past and was advised not to get vaccinated by my doctor. It poses a risk." The divorced mum's visitation rights have been halted. It is believed the mum and her ex-husband have been divorced for seven years, but share custody of their son. During a hearing about child support, Cook County Judge James Shapiro asked the mum about the vaccine, which caught her off-guard. She admitted: “I was confused because it was just supposed to be about expenses and child support. I asked him what it had to do with the hearing, and he said, ‘I am the judge, and I make the decisions for your case.’” The issue was not brought up by her ex-husband, who reportedly stands by the judge's choice. According to The Washington Post, the father's attorney said: "There are children who have died because of COVID. I think every child should be safe. And I agree that the mother should be vaccinated.” The boy's father is vaccinated, reports state. The mum is only allowed to speak to her 11-year-old son on the phone.

“I talk to him every day. He cries, he misses me. I send him care packages.”

The mum said she is determined to appeal the judge's decision and believes he is exceeding his judicial authority. She stressed that he is forcing her family apart: "Dividing families, taking children from their parents, we have to speak out to make sure this is not the new thing." The mum added: "Parents aren't going to stand for that."