Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday will take the unprecedented step of requiring all California teachers and school staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, sources have confirmed.
If true, California would be the first state in the U.S. to mandate vaccinations for teachers.
Educators not receiving vaccinations would be required to test regularly for COVID-19, according to the POLITICO story. Both of the state's major teachers' unions – the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers – reportedly support the plan.
It was not immediately clear when the requirement would go into effect.
Earlier Tuesday, both the San Francisco Unified School District and Oakland Unified School District announced required COVID-19 inoculation for teachers, who would otherwise face regular testing if choosing not to comply.
Both district's plans go into effect on Sept. 7.
Officials in the San Jose Unified School District announced vaccine requirements for teachers and staff last month, the first of the Bay Area's major school districts to do so. In addition to the Bay Area, public school districts in Sacramento and Long Beach have announced similar plans requiring educators to get their shots.
The governor's move comes as cases and hospitalizations rise across California due to the contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
While State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has previously said he isn't against a vaccine mandate for teachers, he "worries that vaccine requirements are inefficient as many schools are racing against a clock," POLITICO said.
Newsom, who faces a highly-anticipated recall election in less than five weeks, has already mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for state employees, including health care workers. He's also mandated that all California students wear masks while attending school.
An earlier release from the governor’s office indicated Newsom would "highlight the state’s work to protect students and school employees returning to in-person instruction this school year" at a news conference on Wednesday, but declined to elaborate. The event is scheduled to take place at 10:50 a.m. at an elementary school in Alameda County.
KCBS Radio has reached out to the governor’s office for comment but a spokesperson declined to confirm an imminent vaccination mandate. Separately, multiple sources have confirmed the governor's pending mandate to KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern.
The story was first reported by POLITICO.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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