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Virginia currently requires students to receive eleven different types of vaccines before they can attend public schools. (Some of the eleven shots are only required for students under or over a certain age.)
The vaccines are set to the harmonized schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
As for the Covid vaccine being added to that list, the first step would be full FDA approval. Right now, children aged 5-11 are able to receive the vaccine under an emergency authorization order.
The Pfizer-BioNtec vaccine has already received full authorization and approval from the FDA for individuals aged 16 years and older. But in the future, it is likely that it will be approved for kids as young as five years old.
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin’s team declined to comment on whether they would support including the Covid-19 vaccine to the list of requirements to attend public schools in the future. They do not comment on hypothetical situations, they said.
Youngkin has opposed any sort of vaccine mandate while also strongly encouraging everyone to receive the shot. He has received the booster, himself. He has also vowed to drop any statewide mask mandate and to leave the decision up to localities for decisions like students in schools.
Virginia reported 17,618 new cases on Friday. Youngkin takes office in less than two weeks.
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