Dear Contra Costa County Community Members and Families,
Last night, the California Department of Public Health announced that the
state will delay the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students until the 2023-24 school year. This move acknowledges the logistical challenges the mandate presents for districts and schools, since the vaccine has not yet been fully approved for the majority of school-age children. The Governor’s announcement means the earliest a COVID-19 vaccine requirement would be implemented would be July 1, 2023.
Despite this delay, I still encourage families to get all eligible children vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccines are proven safe and effective in preventing serious illness and are the best way to keep our schools as healthy and safe as possible. In Contra Costa County, nearly 64 percent of children ages 5-11 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and more than 90 percent of young people ages 12-19 are fully vaccinated.
Please visit the Contra Costa County Health Services website for more information
about vaccine resources.
In Partnership,
Lynn Mackey
Superintendent of Schools