COVID-19 testing and vaccines for California public school students and employees
March 27, 2021

Resolution

Whereas, knowledge is power, and during a pandemic it can mean the difference between life and death of a student, a teacher, a parent, grandparent, or loved one; and

Whereas, numerous studies in the United States and around the world have found that children not only get infected from COVID-19, but also play an important role in spreading it. Asymptomatic infected people of all ages are especially inadvertent spreaders of the virus; and

Whereas, there is nothing new about vaccination requirements for schools, and by enforcing some of the strictest vaccination requirements for students and school employees in the nation, California stopped measles outbreaks and other highly infectious diseases from resurging and debilitating students; and

Whereas, a robust COVID-19 testing system is not enough to eradicate the pandemic, the World Health Organization argues that “a substantial portion of the population” must be vaccinated in order to successfully defeat a pandemic. Figures of 66% to 95% of the population have been cited as the percentage goal; and

Whereas, to date only a small portion of the American population has been vaccinated, and there are many people who are understandably skeptical for a variety of valid reasons. Yet the danger of death by COVID-19, or even serious or long-term illness, is greater than ever;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the CFT call on Governor Newsom to promote legislation recommending frequent COVID-19 testing of all educators, classified professionals, school support staff, and students and the funding to make that possible; and

Be it finally resolved, that the CFT encourage all educators, classified professionals, and school support staff, and students to get vaccinated for COVID-19, and encourage students to get vaccinated as soon as a safe and effective age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible children and students becomes widely available.