Why The COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Mandatory in Public Schools
The vaccine will produce an overall net good
I still dreaded returning to in-person teaching after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on April 1st. My school district required us to report back to work for the last six weeks of school but didn’t ask whether or not teachers were vaccinated.
For the first two weeks, my forehead was drenched in sweat and my legs trembled.
It was not until the CDC announced we wouldn’t have to wear face masks around other vaccinated people that I began to feel more comfortable around co-workers.
Now that the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds, it raises the question: should public schools require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the 2021–2022 school year?
The U.S. already requires some vaccines before entry into school
The CDC does not require vaccines for children to obtain before entering school. Instead, it is decided on a state-by-state basis.
In Texas, children need to be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Hepatitis (A and B), Varicella (Chickenpox), and the Meningococcal disease. Each state varies, but most states…
