UPDATE below: California Gov. Gavin Newsom just announced a new mandate to require school children to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to be allowed to attend school, “following full FDA approval.”
BREAKING: CA will require our kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine to come to school.
This will go into effect following full FDA approval.
Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work.
This is about keeping our kids safe & healthy.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 1, 2021
Putting this new mandate into perspective, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley replied, “Gavin Newsom just announced a vaccine mandate for K-12 students, days after opposing one for prison guards. California kids made the mistake of not giving millions to his campaigns.”
Gavin Newsom just announced a vaccine mandate for K-12 students, days after opposing one for prison guards. California kids made the mistake of not giving millions to his campaigns.
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) October 1, 2021
Kiley also issued a formal statement:
Today Gavin Newsom announced a “first” in the nation vaccine mandate for K-12 students. However, just days ago he actively tried to block a mandate for California corrections officers, whose union contributed $1.75 million to his campaign against the Recall.
In explaining his opposition to the corrections mandate, Newsom’s Administration said it is “working with those who remain unvaccinated with educational resources, access to clinicians and experts to answer questions, and ample access to the vaccine.”
“There is no reason the Governor’s policy of ‘education’ and ‘access’ cannot guide vaccination policy in schools,” Assemblyman Kiley (R-Rocklin) said. “At every turn, this Governor has let his top Special Interest donors dictate pandemic policy. It is an abuse of the public trust without precedent in our state’s history.”
Senator Melissa Melendez weighed in as well: “This is a decision that should have been decided upon by the legislature, not mandated by the governor. It’s also a fine example of what a modern day dictatorship looks like.”
This is a decision that should have been decided upon by the legislature, not mandated by the governor. It’s also a fine example of what a modern day dictatorship looks like. https://t.co/LQ7RSA1vDb
— Senator Melissa Melendez (@senatormelendez) October 1, 2021
Jen Val Laar at RedState weighed in: “I don’t think Newsom understands that he just really undermined the teachers union power in the state – estimates are that 25% of public school students will leave the system b/c of this mandate. The school choice ballot referendum got a major boost with that announcement.”
I don’t think Newsom understands that he just really undermined the teachers union power in the state – estimates are that 25% of public school students will leave the system b/c of this mandate.
The school choice ballot referendum got a major boost with that announcement.
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) October 1, 2021
Summing up Newsom’s newest mandate was this Tweet: “There is no better spokesman for homeschool than Gavin Newsom.”
There is no better spokesman for homeschool than Gavin Newsom. https://t.co/6ytu7ymEjn
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) October 1, 2021
It wasn’t that long ago that government officials assured the public that vaccine mandates would never be imposed.
The Globe will update this article as we learn more.
UPDATE 11:50AM:
The governor issued a statement at 11:46AM:
Following the other first-in-the-nation school masking and staff vaccination measures, Governor Newsom announced the COVID-19 vaccine will be required for in-person school attendance—just like vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella and more.
“The state already requires that students are vaccinated against viruses that cause measles, mumps, and rubella – there’s no reason why we wouldn’t do the same for COVID-19. Today’s measure, just like our first-in-the-nation school masking and staff vaccination requirements, is about protecting our children and school staff, and keeping them in the classroom,” said Governor Newsom. “Vaccines work. It’s why California leads the country in preventing school closures and has the lowest case rates. We encourage other states to follow our lead to keep our kids safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
