Los Angeles Unified School District announced it will be requiring students 12-years-old and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 10 unless that student has a medical or other exemption.
The district is the first in the country to enact a mandate on student vaccination.
“The science is clear – vaccinations are an essential part of protection against COVID19,” Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly said.
“The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and requiring eligible students to be vaccinated is the strongest way to protect our school community.”
Officials say proof of vaccination must be uploaded into the Los Angeles Unified’s Daily Pass system.
“Today’s decision furthers our longstanding commitment to ensure the safety of our students, families, and staff,” Board President Kelly Gonez said.
“The vaccine is the single best way to protect students and schools from COVID-19. Los Angeles Unified is committed to meeting our families where they are and providing them with reliable medical information about this safe, effective vaccine.”
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In late July, the district announced weekly COVID tests for students, teachers and staff would be required for in-person learning regardless of vaccination status.
In early August, it was announced that all employees in the district had to be vaccinated by Oct. 15.
Following baseline COVID tests in the district, it was revealed there were over 3,600 positive cases. Later, the Los Angeles Teachers union called for stricter rules when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations and quarantine protocols.
A mobile vaccination clinic was launched on Aug. 30.
United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz released the following statement:
"Throughout this pandemic, our No. 1 priority as educators has been to keep our students, families, and communities safe, healthy, and thriving. COVID-19 is mutating, being transmitted to our students, and vaccines remain our community's best line of defense to prevent continued spread of disease. Ultimately, we want our schools to stay open, and the best way to ensure that is to have as many people as possible who are in our schools vaccinated.
"UTLA is in full support of the decision by the School Board and Interim Superintendent Megan Reilly to require full COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible students. UTLA made this demand at the bargaining table, publicly called for this action, and take pride in continuing to lead on issues of safety in our schools. We urge the district to continue providing greater access, education, and outreach to facilitate increased vaccination numbers in our school communities.
"Now more than ever, we must work together to keep our schools safer and help protect the most vulnerable among us, including children too young to be vaccinated. Health and safety continue to be top of mind for our entire educational community.
"UTLA is in bargaining with LAUSD on safety proposals that reflect what staff and students have experienced with the full reopening of schools and the need to solidify safety protocols -- including required masking inside and outside of the classroom, continued weekly testing of all students and staff, the highest quality ventilation in every classroom and school buildings, and quarantine protocols that are consistent and transparent -- in recognition of the Delta variant's increased transmissibility and potential for rapid spread."
