Gov. Gavin Newsom in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a mandate requiring all eligible students be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend in-person classes. In a first in the nation move, Newsom announced the mandate on Friday.
Newsom said the requirement would be phased in once the vaccine received full authorization for different age groups. He noted the vaccination would be added to a list of at least 10 vaccines already required of students, including measles and rubella.
BREAKING: CA will require our kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine to come to school.
This will go into effect following full FDA approval.
Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work.
This is about keeping our kids safe & healthy.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 1, 2021
The policy would likely not take effect until the next school year and affected students grades seven through 12.
“Currently, we have in the state of California administered at least one dose to 63.5 percent of all of our young cohort ages 12-17,” Newsom stated. “We have to do more.”
The FDA has so far only fully approved the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 16 and older. The vaccine is approved for emergency use in children over the age of 12.
Source: One America News Network
