Starting today, NOLA Public Schools wants all its students fully vaccinated, or having signed exemption papers. Based on the numbers, it looks like they are going to fall short of that goal.
"A little over 40 percent" of 5-17 year olds in New Orleans are fully vaccinated, according to New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno, and while not all of that are public school students, she says it is short of where they want to be.
Will students without proof of full vaccination or signed form stating they have a religious, medical, or philosophical objection to vaccines be turned away?
"Potentially," said NOLA Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Tiffany Delcour. "That's up to each individual school."
Delcour says extracurricular activities will be restricted to students not in compliance, but she says their primary goal with this mandate is to educate families about the importance of vaccines.
"Really, what we're really focusing on is making sure that parents are part of the solution when it comes to COVID-19," Delcour said. "We know that everybody wants their children in in-person learning as much as possible."
And she says vaccination is the way to make sure students' learning is not disrupted. Fully vaccinated students and faculty who are exposed to COVID will not have to quarantine. Schools will provide weekly testing to monitor for breakthrough cases.