Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
The Fairfax County Public School system’s the latest in the D.C. metro area to mandate vaccines for teachers and other employees or regular testing. The deadline to get vaccinated is in late October, but the school system wouldn’t say whether people need to be fully vaccinated by then or just have received the first Pfizer or Moderna shots.
The school system said in a statement this is “a move that reinforces existing layered prevention strategies and the division’s commitment to safety.”
The statement goes on to say this is to ensure students will have five days a week of in-person classes.
“We are definitely happy that the school system has taken this very important decision and made it happen,” said Kimberly Adams, president of the Fairfax Education Association.
Adams said many union members applaud the decision saying it will help protect everyone.
She wishes the deadline was earlier than October but said the requirements will make sure students and staff have the safest start to school.
Adams estimates about 10-15% of staff still need to be vaccinated, and it should be easier to get it done for those who are willing.
Still there are some teachers who are against the mandate.
“We definitely have people who’ve called and said they’re concerned that this is…to them it feels like a violation of their rights medically,” Adams said.
She added they will work with those people. She hasn’t had any people say they would rather quit that abide by the rules.
In neighboring Alexandria, the school board cast a unanimous vote Thursday night to also have vaccination and testing mandates at the request of Superintendent Gregory Hutchings. He said the school systems needs to respond to a spike in new COVID cases.
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