Nearly 500 Los Angeles Unified School District employees were fired this week for refusing to comply with a mandate that they get vaccinated against Covid-19, while some 34,000 students have not yet been vaccinated as required.
The school board voted 7-0 in separate motions on Tuesday to terminate 496 employees, who make up less than 1 per cent of the district's approximately 73,000 workers.
Most of those fired had likely been on leave since mid-October when LAUSD staffers were to have received at least their first vaccine dose, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. Employees were required to receive their second dose by November 15.
But they may be eligible to get their jobs back if they choose to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Nearly 500 Los Angeles Unified School District employees were fired this week for refusing to comply with a mandate that they get vaccinated against Covid-19. Pictured: Anti-vaccine mandate protesters rally outside the garage doors of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in LA on September 9
'Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities,' interim Superintendent Megan Reilly said in a statement.
'We wish everyone the best in their future endeavors and encourage everyone to get vaccinated.'
It is not clear what roles the 496 fired members of staff held - such as teachers or support staff - in the district.
Meanwhile, with thousands of students not yet complying with the mandate, there's no longer enough time for children aged 12 and above who have not gotten their first shot to be fully inoculated by the January 10 start of the second semester, the Los Angeles Times reported.
LAUSD is one of several large districts in California to adopt their own rules requiring students to get the COVID-19 vaccination, ahead of a statewide policy that will take effect after federal officials fully approve the immunizations by age group.
The state policy, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, is not expected to go into place before July, but the precise date is still unknown.
'Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities,' interim Superintendent Megan Reilly (pictured) said in a statement
Districts including San Diego Unified, Sacramento City Unified, Oakland and West Contra Costa are among those that have deadlines for student vaccine policies scheduled to take effect in early 2022.
The policies vary according to district, with some allowing students to opt for weekly testing and others making the shot a requirement for in-person classes.
In almost all California districts, students aged under 18 can only get vaccinated with parental consent, although San Francisco allows children aged 12 and up to decide for themselves.
In Los Angeles, students who are not fully vaccinated — or exempt — will be forced into the district's independent study program or will have to leave the Los Angeles public school system.
Shifting 34,000 students into independent study would be challenging because the program faces staffing shortages, according to the Times.
In a statement Wednesday, Los Angeles Unified said about 85% of the district's approximately 600,000 students are in compliance with the mandate requiring those 12 and older to get their COVID-19 shots.
That percentage includes students who have received at least one vaccine dose, individuals with a medical exemption or those who qualify for conditional admission to the district, the Times reported. This last group include homeless or foster youths, students whose families are in the military and certain special education students.
Of the 496 employee dismissals, 418 were classified employees who are non-credentialed but critical staff that can include positions such as instructional aides, custodians, cafeteria workers and others.
In Los Angeles, students who are not fully vaccinated — or exempt — will be forced into the district's independent study program or will have to leave the Los Angeles public school system
Attorney Jennifer Kennedy is following two cases currently making their way through court against the LAUSD seeking to end the mandate.
She told NBC Los Angeles that the parents may have a strong case because the district does no have the legal authority to enforce a mandate.
'The LAUSD does not have the power to add a vaccine to the California school schedule,' she said. 'You couldn't do it if you were a podunk school district and you can't do it if you're LAUSD, the second largest district in the nation. You don't have that legal authority.'
Last month the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.
The decision has caused a storm of controversy with opponents pointing to the fact there is little evidence to suggest vaccinating children is necessary.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that just 741 children aged between 0 and 18 died of COVID between the start of the outbreak in March 2020 and December 1 2021.
The US was one of the first states to officially approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, with most countries, including the UK, only offering vaccines to children 12 and older.
Among the more serious potential side effects are inflammation of the heart, which scientists believe is more likely to affect teenage boys, but which they've also stressed is extremely rare.
The pandemic has killed more than 780,000 Americans and slowed economic growth and snarled supply chains.
Mandatory vaccination has become an increasingly popular tool in fighting the pandemic and has boosted U.S. vaccination rates.
Although the Biden administration's plans have been frustrated in court, judges have upheld mandates by private employers, universities and state and local governments.
The Biden administration's requirement for military and civilian government employees survived court challenges.
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