Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno, and NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis all gathered at City Hall for an afternoon press conference to discuss changes to the COVID vaccination mandate:
“Beginning January 3rd, the vaccine mandate will expand to include children ages 5-to-11,” Mayor Cantrell proclaimed. “We will require proof of vaccination or a negative test at bars and restaurants or at other locations for everyone ages 5-and-older… …beginning in February the requirements will then expand to two doses.”
The directive appears on its face to be non-negotiable. Especially when it comes to NOLA Public Schools. “We jointly made a request to the Louisiana Department of Health to add the COVID-19 vaccine to a list of required immunizations for students’ age five and up.”
For a kid not fully vaccinated after February 1st, they're not getting into a restaurant, club, venue, sporting event, or anywhere.
And it's almost the same for schools.
The only recourse a parent has if their child is unvaccinated is to request an exemption from the State Department of Education.
But even going that route means their child could be taken out of school if they exhibit signs of infection. If the parent gives in and has the child vaccinated, they can be readmitted.
Still, there is no immediate recourse if a child has a medical reason for not getting vaccinated or the parents are anti-vax.
Since the announcement was made just yesterday, there has been no push back from organizations or word from a governmental agency challenging the Mayor’s right to require the vaccination protocol.
