- COVID-19 immunization is required for all students ages 12 and up for in-person instruction and extracurricular activities in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's biggest.
- Vaccine mandates are being discussed in several smaller California school districts.
- Currently, most school districts around the country do not require kids to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but this is expected to change in the near future, according to experts.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is currently licensed for children aged 12 and higher.
- This autumn or winter, the Food and Drug Administration is anticipated to make a decision on COVID-19 immunizations for children under the age of 12.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has passed a vaccination mandate that requires pupils aged 12 and above to be fully vaccinated in order to participate in in-person instruction.
To engage in extracurricular activities, students must be completely immunized by October 31.
They must be completely immunized by Dec. 19 to attend in-person sessions.
The Los Angeles Unified School System (LAUSD) is the country's biggest school district to enforce COVID-19 vaccinations.
The decision comes as the number of illnesses among youngsters has increased by 240 percent since July.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, severe illness in children infected with the coronavirus is uncommon.
However, COVID-19 has resulted in the hospitalization of a limited number of youngsters.
As we go inside during autumn and winter, pediatricians anticipate that more children and parents may be exposed to the virus.
Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician at Providence Mission Hospital in Orange County, California, told Healthline that vaccination is the greatest approach to protect kids and our community from the virus's devastating and long-term impacts.
What is the procedure for enforcing mandates?
Children who are now eligible for COVID-19 immunization must receive their first dose within 30 days of turning 12 years old.
The second dose must be given within 8 weeks of the first.
The injections will be given to youngsters with parental agreement at school, according to the district.
By January 10, 2022, proof of immunization must be posted to LAUSD's Daily Pass program.
Vaccinating children not only protects them from becoming ill and developing long-term illnesses but also helps to prevent transmission in their communities.
COVID-19 vaccine regulations have been compared to other normal childhood immunization requirements, such as chickenpox or measles, mumps, and rubella.
Vaccine-preventable disease epidemics have been effectively averted as a result of these regulations.
Will this be followed by other school districts?
Vaccine requirements are being considered by a few California school districts, including one in Culver City and two in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Although more school districts may follow suit in the future, the great majority of school districts across the US do not mandate kids to be COVID-19 vaccinated.
There hasn't been a decision about vaccinating kids in Orange County, just south of Los Angeles, according to Williamson.
Unvaccinated instructors, on the other hand, have passed the virus on to pupils, she noted.
“The best approach to keep our kids and teachers safe is for everyone 12 and older to be vaccinated, and for now, to wear masks in schools because the virus continues to affect so many unvaccinated children and adults,” Williamson added.
At least nine states have enacted laws prohibiting public schools from forcing kids to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah.
At least 34 states have approved legislation reducing the requirement of vaccination evidence.
In several states, religious and medical exemptions from school vaccinations are also permitted.
Vaccination of your children
Shapiro advises that children be immunized as soon as feasible.
“At the moment, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccination available for children as young as 12 years old, and it takes two shots, with complete immunity not achieved until two weeks after the second dose,” he added.
If your child is unsure or concerned about the shot, Shapiro suggests having an open and honest discussion about the vaccine's aim.
Because some children are frightened of needles, Williamson suggests assuring them that it will just hurt for a second and that you would be there to help them afterward.
If your child has been exposed to false material on social media, Williamson advises that you listen to their worries rather than dismissing them.
Schedule an in-office or telemedicine appointment with their physician so they may express questions and have their concerns handled in a private setting, according to Williamson.
Vaccination, according to Shapiro, is comparable to wearing a seat belt.
“We wear seat belts in the automobile because they keep us safe and can save our lives in the case of an accident. In a similar manner, the vaccination protects us against being infected with this extremely infectious virus,” he explained.
Vaccines reduce the chance of serious injury in the same way as seat belts reduce the risk of getting seriously wounded in a vehicle accident. Vaccines also keep patients out of the hospital.
Last but not least
The Los Angeles Unified School District has passed a vaccination mandate that requires pupils aged 12 and above to be fully vaccinated in order to participate in in-person instruction.
Although additional districts may issue student vaccine requirements in the future, the great majority of school districts in the United States do not require COVID-19 vaccination at present moment.
Pediatricians advise getting children vaccinated as soon as possible, as complete immunity takes over a month.
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