Countless childhood vaccines play a role in protecting children from deadly diseases ranging from tetanus to polio. In academic settings, children gather en masse, which maximizes, not minimizes, the risk of catching a virus of any level of severity. Inevitably, the illness often spreads to parents. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provide suggested childhood vaccine schedules.
Part of an annual update
A recent annual update by the CDC is the addition of the COVID vaccine for school-age children. The announcement and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) formal vote follow another declaration that set May 11th as the potential end of the national COVID emergency declaration.
The addition of the COVID vaccine to children’s immunization schedule is not a mandate for entry into a chosen school. However, when looking at past history, state, and local entities have become well known for their “flexibility” in requirements. Most experts concur that a required coronavirus vaccine in the public education system is unlikely.
However, bureaucracies are often prone to change course, with medical professionals already claiming that a possible change in the virus may require a different path toward new mandates.
COVID-19 vaccine injuries
The prospect of suggested or mandated vaccine requirements may concern parents who are aware that vaccines can cause serious injury. Though the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program provides compensation for injuries from many vaccines including the flu vaccine and Gardasil, COVID-19 vaccine injuries are unfortunately still not currently included in the VICP. However, adding the COVID-19 vaccination to the Childhood Immunization Schedule is an important step towards getting the COVID vaccine covered in the VICP. As one of the firms recommended to handle these vaccine injury cases, the team at Downing, Allison & Jorgenson National Vaccine Injury Lawyers is monitoring the situation closely and advocating when possible for COVID-19 vaccine injuries to be included under VICP.