Dunkirk resident and Jamestown Community College attendee Iann Ramirez is in danger of losing his scholarship from JCC because he hasn’t received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Ramirez, 19, attended P-Tech academy and was working at JCC all summer. His mother, April Ramirez, is adamant that receiving the vaccine should be a personal choice.

“If it’s not broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed,” Ramirez said. “It should be a choice like the flu vaccine. That’s where my concern is.”

Ramirez said that her son has been at JCC this summer, and up until recently, had been fine just taking masking precautions. Recently, Ramirez received an email saying that he either has to receive the vaccine within 35 days of receiving the email, or lose his scholarship. April Ramirez said the school is out of line to threaten to take away the scholarship.

“Masks were working all summer,” Ramirez said. “Kids have been locked up for so long and the whole summer the kids were on campus with masks, and they’re working. Now he needs a pass from the doctor or the vaccination. He has to do some classes that are hands-on. He earned that scholarship and worked his tail off. He made a speech on graduation day, and now to find out that he’s being threatened like this? I don’t know where it’ll go but I’m going to keep fighting.”

Iann Ramirez has been an honor roll student for almost his entire school tenure, and on top of his scholarship, is also a member of the National Honor Society. April Ramirez said that while she thought she may be alone in her fight, she has gotten some support from other parents, and even the principal of P-Tech.

“None of it makes sense and I would hate to think the school won’t honor his degree he earned,” Ramirez said. “I’ve been making calls everywhere. I’ve been in touch with the principal of P-Tech and they’re fighting it too. He said he’s meeting with people from the New York Health Department. He has the vaccine and he thinks it should be optional.”

Ramirez said she has no issues with her son wearing a mask if it means not having to get the vaccine, and would be more interested in her son getting the vaccine if JCC was willing to take any liability should he experience any negative side effects upon taking it.

“They have paperwork that says they’re not responsible for complications from the vaccine,” Ramirez said. “I asked the school if they’d be viable for a lawsuit and they won’t say anything and just keep passing me around. I want answers as a parent. No facility, school or job, should mandate the vaccine.”

Jamestown Community College has been clear in its regulations and requirements, and re-confirmed their stance in a statement.

“We have worked extensively to communicate to all students what the COVID-19 vaccination policies have been,” the college said. “All COVID-19 vaccine policies have been properly communicated with all members of the college community and the public since July following the governor’s and SUNY’s announcement.”