● The Governor has also directed that adults be held to at least the same
standards as students for the COVID-19 vaccine. While currently, California
requires all K-12 staff to verify their vaccination status or be tested weekly, all staff
will be required to be vaccinated no later than when the requirement takes
effect for students.
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● The current verify-or-test requirement for staff will be converted to a vaccine
mandate no later than when the first phase of the student requirement becomes
effective.
● Five districts nationwide -- all in California -- have moved forward with a student
mandate (in the following order): Culver City Unified; LA Unified; Oakland Unified;
Piedmont Unified; and San Diego Unified. Local public health and school officials
are encouraged to move forward with their own vaccine requirements.
● While individual counties and schools may accelerate vaccine requirements, the
state requirement will create a statewide standard to ensure all staff and
students will be vaccinated.
Timing
● Students will be required to be vaccinated for in person learning starting the term
following FDA full approval of the vaccine for their grade span (7-12 and k-6).
● Upon full approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a vaccine for
age groups within a grade span, CDPH will consider relevant recommendations
from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians prior to
implementing a requirement, as required by the Health and Safety Code section
120335(b)(11).
● CDPH will then initiate the rulemaking process, which includes public comment.
Regulations promulgated pursuant to that process will also address many of the
details of the requirement, including the scope of exemptions, etc.
● The regulations will take effect at the start of the following term, meaning either
January 1st or July 1st, whichever comes first. (Education Code 37200). This will
also give both parents and schools sufficient time to prepare and implement.
● Based on current projections for full approval for ages 12+, we anticipate the
requirement would apply to grades 7-12 starting on July 1, 2022.
● Students who are under the age of full approval, but within the grade span, will
be required to be vaccinated once they reach the age of full approval (with a
reasonable period of time to receive both doses), consistent with existing
procedures for other vaccines.
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https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/08/11/california-implements-first-in-the-nation-measure-to-encourage-teach
ers-and-school-staff-to-get-vaccinated/