LAUSD to offer, but not require, vaccine for students ages 5-11

The Los Angeles Unified School District said it will offer – but not require – the coronavirus vaccine for students ages 5 to 11.

LAUSD said in a statement that it will offer voluntary vaccine access for kids in that age group (5 to 11) starting November 8. Beginning November 16, LAUSD will have 13 school-based clinics offer the vaccine. On select Saturdays, the district will also offer school-based clinics.

The district's announcement came shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine the green light to give kids as young as 5 the jab. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CDC approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5 to 11

Below is the full statement released by LAUSD:

"With the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children, we are delighted to be able to offer voluntary vaccine access to students in this age group. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly encouraged for children ages 5-11. However, it will not be part of Los Angeles Unified’s current student vaccine requirement.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect our students, staff and families, and public schools are natural sites for our students and families to receive this life-saving vaccine.

Beginning November 8, our mobile vaccination teams will offer the vaccine to students in this age group. Beginning November 16, 13 school-based clinics will offer the vaccine. We will also have school-based clinics offering the vaccine on select Saturdays. Information about the clinics will be available at https://achieve.lausd.net/studentvaccine.

We appreciate everyone’s commitment to maintaining the safest possible learning environment for the students and families we serve and encourage all students and families to take advantage of these vaccine clinics."

As of Tuesday, eligible students ages 12 and up are required to get the vaccine in order to attend in-person classes.

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