Vaccine Mandates in Schools
Covid has had an irreversible effect on American students for the past two years. Kids have been deprived of in-person learning for long periods of time, many for the majority of their schooling since 2020. They have been deprived of a stable learning environment due to outbreaks in schools that have gotten millions of kids and their families sick. Since the Covid vaccine was first made available, there have been heated debates throughout the country about whether or not schools should require covid vaccines. Laws regarding vaccine mandates currently vary by state. Currently, the state of Alabama prohibits vaccine mandates in schools, as well as requiring a covid vaccine as a condition of employment. This was signed into law by Governor Ivy on November 5th, 2021.
Those who support vaccine mandates in schools believe that this is the best way to keep students, teachers, and their families safe and to ensure that students have a stable and effective learning environment. A significant number of parents pulled have pulled their kids out of in person schools and begun homeschooling their children due to safety concerns during the pandemic. President Biden has spoken out in support of vaccine mandates in schools, stating “Vaccination requirements are nothing new. They work. They’re overwhelmingly supported by educators and their unions.
Many people object to vaccine mandates in schools, arguing that the government should not be able to tell them what to do with their body. They see it as unjust government control. There is also a lot of fear regarding Covid vaccines. Many argue that since the vaccines are new, they feel unsafe due to possible side effects and that the long-lasting effects are unknown. Former President Donald Trump has spoken out against vaccine mandates in schools, stating “Now, there’s talk by the Biden Administration again about closing schools and even vaccine mandates for school children. This is an outrage, and MAGA nation should rise up and oppose this egregious federal government outreach.” Many who object to vaccine mandates also argue that vaccinations will not stop kids from getting covid.
I believe that there should be vaccine mandates in schools. According to the CDC, while the vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, “COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.” In regards to whether the vaccines are safe, the CDC has approved them and stated that “COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.” In regards to arguments about government control, there are several other vaccines that are currently required in American schools, including the Polio vaccine, the Hepatitis B vaccine, the tetanus vaccine, and the MMR vaccine.
I believe that the only way that this issue can be resolved is if more people are educated about the safety of the vaccines and if misinformation about the vaccine is called out. There need to be national strategies to combat COVID-19 misinformation. There has been a plethora of misinformation about the vaccine and its side effects, including false reports of fertility issues caused by the COVID vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men.” I think that it would be effective if more politicians encouraged people to get the vaccine as well as addressing vaccine misinformation. If we do not require COVID vaccinations in schools, kids will continue to get sick and they will risk exposing the illness to at-risk people such as infants, the elderly and people will health issues. Kids who are high-risk due to serious health issues will continue to risk their lives by going to school. Schools will continue to temporarily shut down during each new wave of COVID, and in-person students will continue to be deprived of a proper education.