A nurse administers a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a L.A. Care Health Plan vaccination clinic in Los Angeles on Jan. 19. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
California will not mandate COVID-19 vaccines for schoolchildren until at least summer of 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced on Thursday, the AP reports.
The big picture: The state was the first to announce a K-12 vaccine mandate back in October.
Driving the news: The mandate will not take effect until at least July 1, 2023, as the state continues to await final approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children.
- The Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in children between 5 and 11 years of age in October. However, it has yet to receive full approval.
- School districts will also need time to implement the mandate after the final approval, California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said.