On Monday, parents and children stayed away from school as part of a larger protest against California’s vaccination requirement for all K-12 pupils to be immunized against COVID-19. “Our kids are not lab rats” and “Our children are our decision” were some of the signs held by parents, children and others.
California Governor, Gavin Newsom, mandated vaccination for public and private K-12 students on October 1, the first of its kind in the United States. Beginning with the term following full FDA approval of the vaccine, seventh through 12th graders will be among the first to be compelled to get vaccinated under the law. Students under the age of 12 would be phased in over time.
The news has provoked outrage among some parents, including those who are not opposed to their children being vaccinated with the current COVID-19 vaccines but do not want them immunized.