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Children's health

02nd Oct 2021

Covid vaccine to become mandatory in California schools- should Ireland do the same?

Kat O'Connor

Do you think the vaccine should be mandatory in schools?

Schools in California have made the Covid-19 mandatory for pupils.

Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed the decision this week.

He said the new measure will help protect the public from Covid-19.

The governor said the state “will require our kids to get the Covid-19 vaccine to come to school.”

“Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps, and more. Why? Because vaccines work. This is about keeping our kids safe and healthy,” he added.

He added that this rule will apply to all students in both private and public schools in California.

“Once the FDA approves the vaccination in different cohorts, starting with 12 and above – grade seven to 12 – we will begin to apply that requirement in the next term,” he added.

There are approximately 6 million students in the state.

Children aged 16 and up are allowed to be vaccinated in America.

“Schools are actually closed more frequently in those states that have not been more disciplined in terms in advancing more scientific and data-driven approaches to taming this disease,” Newsom stressed.

The news comes after Pfizer applied for approval from the FDA for a Covid vaccine for children under 12.

They’re hoping the FDA will approve their findings and allow children between 5 and 11 years of age to be vaccinated.

Do you think a similar measure should be introduced in Ireland?