No, the CDC Cannot Force Children to Be Vaccinated Against COVID.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not prescribe vaccinations for schoolchildren, a fact anyone who follows vaccination policy knows. Tucker Carlson, who recently stated that DCD will soon require children to receive a COVID vaccine before they are allowed to go to school, either doesn’t understand how it works or fully understands but loves to lie (and tease his audience). I will leave that distinction to others. In any case: he is wrong.
A rumor has been circulating over the past few days that the CDC recently held a meeting and passed a new rule that would make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all public school students. The idea came from a “Fox News writer”, Carlson expanded on it, and it took off . But that’s more social media (and media) bullshit.
Who prescribes vaccinations for schoolchildren?
When children enter school and reach certain grades, children are usually required to show proof of vaccination against several diseases. The concept of compulsory school vaccination exists, yes.
But the details of such policies are set and enforced by each state, as the CDC tweeted in response to Carlson’s clip . This means that the required vaccines vary from state to state and are not determined by anyone at the federal level.
For example, the states of Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Virginia require the HPV vaccine for students entering seventh grade, while other states do not require it at all. States also differ in their policies regarding who can be granted an exemption from the rules.
Currently, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, California and the District of Columbia require a COVID vaccine for school enrollment . So far, this is not the case in any other state.
What did the CDC do?
Some of the truth in the rumor is that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is about to decide whether to include COVID-19 vaccines in the childhood immunization schedule. This means that these vaccines are recommended for all eligible children.
Insurance companies are generally required to cover the full cost of any vaccines that show up on the recommended schedule. That’s why you can get your kids vaccinated against measles, rotavirus, and tetanus (among other things) for free, without compromising your franchise.
Recommended vaccines are also covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program , which means the US government can provide compensation without fault to anyone who can provide evidence that they were harmed by a childhood vaccine without having to file a lawsuit against the company that made the vaccine. (This applies if, for example, your child has a severe allergic reaction after being vaccinated against COVID.)
ACIP recently voted to include COVID vaccines in the Vaccines for Children program , which provides recommended vaccines for free, even to uninsured children. Currently, COVID vaccines are available to everyone free of charge. The VFC program has some subtle differences from the current COVID vaccination program, which the CDC details here , but they mostly involve behind-the-scenes paperwork.
However, COVID vaccines are still a good idea. Children do not get COVID as often as adults, but some do get sick and become seriously ill. And if you’re ever in doubt about what vaccines are needed for schoolchildren, check with your government officials.