A political newcomer and vocal opponent of vaccine mandates in the US has reportedly died from COVID-19.
Kelly Ernby, 46, a Republican and lawyer from California, publicly advocated against COVID-19 vaccine mandates on Facebook and a month before her death she spoke at an anti-vaccine mandate rally.
Fellow Republican Jon Fleischman, political strategist, didn't expect Ernby to die, describing her death as "sudden", the Los Angeles Times reported.
Her husband said at the time of her death Ernby was not vaccinated against COVID-19.
"She was NOT vaccinated. That's the problem," Axel Ernby said in social media posts.
News of Ernby's death has gained widespread attention online between those for and against vaccine mandates.
According to The Guardian, some people are posting comments about her anti-vaccine mandate stance and blaming Ernby for her own death.
Before the pandemic Ernby fought against vaccine mandates, opposing a new law tightening immunisation rules for school children.
"I don't think that the government should be involved in mandating what vaccines people are taking,” she said. "I think that's a decision between doctors and their patients… If the government is going to mandate vaccines, what else are they going to mandate?"
Countries around the world have mandated vaccinations against COVID-19 for workers in certain industries and roles. Vaccination not only significantly reduces the likelihood people will be infected with COVID-19 but also lowers the chance people will pass it onto someone else or fall seriously ill.
