United Parents of South Carolina (UPSC) deeply appreciates Governor McMaster unmasking our children!

1. We agree that complex medical decisions including masking policies must be decided by the person who holds the best interest of the child, which are parents or legal guardians.  

2. We encourage you to hold health agencies and others accountable to clearly and accurately communicate scientific justification for public health policies in our schools and community settings. 

(Please see earlier correspondence from UPSC to Governor McMaster) 

August 6, 2021

Dear Governor McMaster,

Thank you for taking steps to require our state to independently, carefully and critically review federal health agency recommendations before implementing them into policy.  

Thank you taking steps to require our state to independently, carefully and critically review federal health agency recommendations before implementing them into policy.  

You are not alone in your concerns. Parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and other community members trust, depend on and expect our government agencies, charged to protect the health and safety of South Carolinian’s, to use the best methods and highest standards of science and regulatory approval processes. 

In South Carolina and across our nation, it is clear that public trust in federal health agencies has considerably eroded. If not addressed, the growing lack of trust in public health officials and elected officials who support them may have a devastating impact on our state. This mistrust is not surprising due to agencies encouraging certain policies that are:

* not supported by the scientific evidence, 
* not adapted as emerging scientific evidence and new information becomes available,
* not scientifically justified to be implemented in all age groups and populations,  
* detrimental due to known and unintended negative consequences in certain populations, resulting in other very serious public health problems,

A poll recently published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported about half the people surveyed have lost trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been plenty of missteps by the CDC throughout the past year, including everything from political interference, to incomplete and contradicting information, to confusing messaging. 

The collateral damage and consequences of lockdowns and other recommended public health policies include increased child abuse and domestic violence, increased mental health problems and suicide rates, increased unexcused student absenteeism, increased poverty and food insecurity, unprecedented drug overdoses, missed essential health screenings and/or lack of access to essential healthcare, business closures, job losses, supply disruptions and surging crime.

It is imperative to strive for policies that support the best possible health outcomes in South Carolina. One-size-fits-all federal government public health strategies have resulted in expected and unexpected devastating public health consequences across our nation, which often disproportionately impact children and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. One-size-fits-all recommendations may benefit one subset of the population, but harm another.  

A recent report shows that no fewer than 15 state legislatures have passed or are considering passing measures that would restrict the legal authority of health agencies. Federal health agencies need to acknowledge and take responsibility for honest mistakes, inaccuracies and missteps in order to begin to earn back trust.

Bright, trustworthy, qualified individuals that work strictly for the best interest of South Carolinians (not federal agencies) need to be charged with the independent review of the data and the growing body of scientific evidence before adopting federal recommendations or creating necessary public health policy for our state. We believe:

To achieve the best possible health outcomes in South Carolina in the future, a more thoughtful, targeted approach is needed.  The purpose of public health is to mitigate risk and to support the unique physical, social and emotional needs of different populations. 

Transparent and accurate communication that justifies public health policy in schools and other settings is urgently needed. Policies must be supported by providing South Carolinians appropriate source documents and data. Easily understandable, accurate explanations and sound scientific citations that justify recommendations and policies impacting our state need to be clearly documented and communicated on the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) website. 

Presuming that an unproven public health strategy is safe and/or effective is not good enough. Federal health agencies often message the American people that a public health mitigation strategy is “safe and effective” when there is an absence of meaningful scientific evidence proving effectiveness and/or safety. These are reckless practices that do not serve the best interest of Americans and further erode trust.

South Carolinians deserve truthful, transparent messaging from government regarding public health strategies in which they are expected to participate.

We agree that it does not appear to be reasonable, scientifically reliable or in the best interest of South Carolinians to adopt federal health agency recommendations without rigorous review. Additionally, it is very difficult for South Carolina to hold federal government agencies accountable for the potential damaging impact their guidance may have on our state’s children and citizens. 

The pandemic reminded us why checks and balances on concentrated power are so important. It is absolutely essential to act in the best interests of South Carolinian’s regardless of how well-meaning those who blindly trust certain federal agency recommendations appear to be. 

Thank you again for standing-up for science and acting in the best interest of our school communities and all South Carolinians.

Sincerely,