CALIFORNIA DELAYS VACCINE MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS

California is keeping its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for schoolchildren, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) administration announced this week, though the state’s mandate won’t take effect until at least next summer.

Newsom has said he was waiting for federal health officials to approve giving the vaccine to younger children, and while those as young as 5 are currently able to get the shot under an emergency authorization, the Food and Drug Administration has not given final approval for giving the vaccine to young children.

California’s health secretary told The Associated Press that the state would not implement the mandate until at least July 2023.