By ABBY GROFF
Staff Writer
As the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is finally granted FDA approval, Los Angeles public schools have been few of the first to mandate vaccinations for students twelve years or older. The decision was met with a lot of praise from families nationwide, but was also met with outrage at the idea of requiring that children get vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes. Monica Garcia, a member of the board at Los Angeles Unified School District, stated that “this action is not about violating anybody’s rights,” in order to combat the backlash faced from parents. In recent times anti-vaxxers have compared the surge of mandated vaccine laws to abortion rights in the United States, claiming that “forcing” the vaccine on Americans contradicts the idea of “my body, my choice”.
Board members in Los Angeles believe this is the best solution in order to keep high-risk students and families safe from the virus. Politics aside, the decision wasn’t made lightly and much was considered before putting the rule into place. Medical or religious exemptions are allowed for those unable to get vaccinated; however, if a student isn’t fully vaccinated by LAUSD’s last day of Winter Break, January 11, said student will not be allowed to go back to in-person classes. They will have to go back to attending digital Zoom lessons. The district has said, though, that athletes have a deadline much sooner than the rest of the students. Athletes twelve and older must have both of their shots by the end of October to continue their sport.