Governor John Bel Edwards said despite a House committee’s vote against adding the COVID vaccine to the school immunization schedule he still plans to do so. The rule will go into effect for the Fall of 2022 school year and like all vaccines, parents have the ability for their child to opt-out.
“It will be up to parents to decide whether their kids get vaccinated or not, that’s consistent with the way we do other vaccinations as well and we’re not going to change that,” said Edwards.
House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who’s been on the record against COVID vaccine mandates told members of the House Health and Welfare Committee asking parents to opt-out of the vaccine is too cumbersome.
“Parents should not be forced to go through the process of jumping through hoops to opt their children out of the COVID shot. Let me say that as clearly as possible. The COVID-19 shot should not be added to be required for schools,” said Schexnayder.
At this time the FDA has only approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine for ages 16 and older and has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for ages five and older. The requirements at Louisiana schools would only pertain to ages that have full FDA approval. Edwards said it’s vital for young people to be vaccinated also.
“The risk to these young people from COVID-19 is significant enough, serious enough that the vaccine is warranted for them, but it’s also part of a larger effort to make sure we’re dealing with the pandemic,” said Edwards.
Governor Edwards will appear on his monthly radio show Ask the Governor Wednesday at 2 PM.
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