California Bill Would Require All School Kids To Be Vaccinated
A newly proposed bill aims to add another layer of protection for children who attend California schools.
State Senator Dr. Richard Pan put forth the Keep Schools Open and Safe Act which would require all students K-12 to be vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of FDA approval. If the bill is signed into law, it will overrule Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s statewide mandate.
Newsom’s mandate does not require the vaccine until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approves the shot for children 12 and older.
“High vaccination rates, along with testing, masks and other safety measures, to halt Covid spread, keeps our schools open and keeps them safe.” Dr. Pan said at a press conference Monday.
The only way children would be allowed to attend school without the vaccine is if parents had a medical exemption for their child.
Parent Sara Gray told ABC Fresno News that she shouldn’t be forced to vaccinate her children.
“The state of California is saying, ‘We’re in charge. You don’t have rights.'” said Gray.
She says, if the bill is signed into law, she’s planning to home school her children or put them in a private school that is not state-funded.
If signed into law, the new requirements would go into effect on January 1, 2023.
