COVID-19 vaccine requirement for children explored by State Board of Health April 13 – Washington Policy

Washingtons State Board of Health plans to go over a recommendation againstincluding a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for school entry at its all-day meeting April 13. Petitions concerning the decision-making about such a requirement also will be introduced, and time for public comment is included on the meetingsdraft agendareleased today.

Action by the board on these issues is possible.

Even though the technical advisory group set up by the states Department of Health and the State Board of Health (SBOH) advised against a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for school children, the issue is listed on the draft agenda this way: Briefing Recommendations from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to consider COVID-19 for Inclusion inWAC 246-105-030 Possible Action. That could mean the board will be considering more than just the majority decision of the group. Several TAG members did want the vaccine included on the vaccination schedule or weretorn about the timing of such a requirement.

The board has the final say on the matter, not the advisorygroup. However, the board saysthat it usually goes along with the formal recommendations it receives.

Not enough is known yet about the vaccine and its side effects, advisory group members said in their considerations, and the requirement felt out of line when theshots given for COVID-19 do not prevent transmission of the virus.

Lack of disease prevention makes this whole exercise of considering the inclusion of a COVID-19 vaccine questionable. TheWashington Administrative Codeoutlining school-entry requirements is titled, Immunization of child care and school children against certain vaccine-preventable diseases. COVID-19 is not a vaccine-preventable disease. Other, long-proven vaccines on the requirement list are well-demonstrated in prevention and an essential part of public health.

Submitting public commentfor or against the idea of COVID-19 vaccination inclusion is easy, as is registering to attend the online meeting or signing up to givecomments verbally. Instructions are on the SBOHsmeeting information page. (Know that written comments are due by noon on April 8.)

Washington Policy Center is hopeful that parents, in consultation with their childrens doctors, will remain in charge of determining whether a COVID-19 shot is best for a child without the pressure of a school-entry requirement. The advisorygroup the SBOH convenedwas right inrecommendingagainst the idea, given what we know about COVID-19 and vaccinerisks, as well as theprevention limitations of the vaccines.

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COVID-19 vaccine requirement for children explored by State Board of Health April 13 - Washington Policy