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| LM Otero AP |
When a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee announced last month that COVID-19 vaccines will be added to the recommended shot schedule for children, many parents began bracing for a fight.
While the recommendation did not require that children receive the vaccine, it might as well have. CDC recommendations carry the weight of a federal agency, and many state agencies use them to develop policy.
Indeed, CDC guidance became a convenient scapegoat for state and local leaders (who were hesitant to take responsibility for unpopular policies) throughout the COVID pandemic.
And the schedule change gave states all the credibility they needed to require the vaccine for students to attend public schools.
California didn’t hesitate. Washington, D.C., did not even wait for the CDC’s recommendation. It long-ago mandated the vaccine for public school kids, with mixed compliance.
Thankfully, Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t take the bait. He announced Thursday that “Texas schools shall not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for any reason.”
His decision is welcome, albeit unsurprising; it reaffirms last year’s executive order regarding state vaccine mandates more broadly. --->READ MORE HERE
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| Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images |
The Republican leader directed state education officials to restrict schools from requiring COVID-19 inoculations for enrollment.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a press release Thursday announcing the outlawing of mandated COVID-19 vaccinations at state public schools.Abbott also announced the directive on Twitter Thursday, stating that "COVID vaccine mandates are PROHIBITED in Texas as part of school attendance.
"In Texas, we honor & defend the freedom of parents to choose what is best for the health of their families," Abbott stated.
In a letter sent to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, Abbott said that Texas law "overrides" the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent, non-binding recommendation that adds the COVID-19 vaccine to a list of scheduled immunizations for adults and kids in school, according to the announcement.
“Despite attempts at federal overreach into the health care decisions of Americans, in Texas we continue to honor and defend the freedom of parents to choose what is best for the health and well-being of their families,” Abbott stated. “Regardless of what the CDC may suggest, in Texas, the COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary. Texas schools shall not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for any reason.” --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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