Q&A: What California’s new student vaccine mandate means for your child

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that students volition soon request to beryllium vaccinated against the coronavirus to be schoolhouse successful idiosyncratic successful California. Here’s what you request to cognize astir the caller vaccine mandate.

Q: What is the caller requirement?

A: Starting the schoolhouse word aft the vaccines person afloat support from the FDA for 2 antithetic groups, children successful those groups indispensable beryllium vaccinated against the coronavirus to be nationalist and backstage schools successful person. The request volition beryllium phased successful by people span, archetypal grades 7-12 and past K-6. School unit volition besides request to beryllium vaccinated by the clip the request applies to the archetypal cohort.

Q: So what’s the deadline for getting my pupil vaccinated?

The nonstop day remains to beryllium seen. But kids property 12 and up (the grades 7-12 cohort) could beryllium required to beryllium vaccinated arsenic aboriginal arsenic January 1, 2022. School unit — not conscionable teachers, but autobus drivers, custodians etc. — volition besides request to beryllium vaccinated astatine that time. Vaccine requirements for younger children successful Kindergarten done 6th people are apt months away.

Q: What if my pupil isn’t aged capable to beryllium vaccinated?

A: The request volition lone use to children eligible to beryllium vaccinated.

Q: What different vaccines are required for California schoolhouse kids?

A: The request is not unusual. California already requires kids to person immunizations for polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP), measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, and varicella (chickenpox).

Q: Will my kid beryllium forbidden from going to schoolhouse if she doesn’t get a shot?

A: Students who are not vaccinated volition beryllium permitted to enroll successful autarkic study, but they volition not beryllium allowed to be people successful person.

Q: Are determination immoderate exceptions? 

A: Yes, determination volition beryllium exceptions for aesculapian reasons and idiosyncratic and spiritual beliefs.

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