In the face of Governor Gavin Newsom’s plans to require COVID 19 vaccinations  for students on Oct 1, many PRHS students surveyed objected to his mandate, sharing a variety of convictions and questions. 

California is the first state in the nation to announce such a measure, but it is not a policy supported by 51% of students according to a survey of over 350 students conducted between Sept 28-Oct 8, 2021. 

“I think we should have the choice and be able to decide what is best for us as individuals. If you want it, great. If not, then don’t get it,” one student wrote.

The CDC recommends that all U.S. individuals receive the vaccination. In California, 28,542,080 people (72.24% of the population) have received at least one dose. Overall, 23,482,292 people or 59.43% of California’s population have been fully vaccinated. 

“COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support approval or authorization of a vaccine,” the site claims, as of press time.

While millions of people have trusted that vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, Bearcat students have prioritized the freedom to choose whether or not they should get the vaccine. 

Students will be required to be vaccinated for in person learning starting the school term following FDA full approval of the vaccine for their grade span (7-12 and k-6). Upon full approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a vaccine for age groups within each grade span, the CDPH will consider relevant recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians prior to implementing a requirement, as required by the Health and Safety Code section 120335(b)(11). 

Based on current projections for full approval for ages 12+, the expectation is that the requirement would apply to grades 7-12 starting on July 1, 2022.

Back in August, California also led the country in requiring all teachers and school staff to either get vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing and “schools must be in full compliance by October 15, 2021,” (ca.gov, Office of Gavin Newsome). 

“For the health of our community, I believe all students and staff at the high school should be mandated to get a vaccine. People seem to forget that we have many mandated vaccines in our country. In order for any of us to attend a public school we all received vaccines as young children. Vaccines are intended to protect our health, not to create a political divide among people,” one teacher wrote.

Student attitudes stand in contrast to the adults who teach them. Nearly all 100-plus PRHS teachers and admin staff have been vaccinated. Those who haven’t (or decline to state) must test weekly. Similarly, the National Education Association, the nation’s largest union representing nearly 3 million educators, has been tracking vaccination reports since February 2021. In their most recent survey, 86% of teacher members have had at least one shot. 

Students at PRHS think requiring vaccination for teachers is good for their educators. 42 % of students (in a survey of over 350) think that teachers should be required to get vaccinated. 12% of students do not think teachers should be required, 10% say they are not “informed enough to say,” and 36% have no opinion. 

Though the majority of students (57%) are either pro/against covid vaccination, 10 % think that regardless of their opinion, students should have a choice.

Some students wrote of the importance of a public vaccination campaign. Many students who support getting a COVID vaccination urge students and teachers to get it so that “everything can get back to normal.”  Another student wrote, “It is something people should take to stay safe and go back to a ‘normal’ life.”

Another student said, “I’m all for the COVID vaccine. I think it’s important to take every measure possible against COVID so that people won’t keep dying and that we can all go back to a somewhat normal life.”

One student who is opposed to the vaccination believes that the eradication of COVID is too idealistic of a view, therefore it should not be required.

“I don’t really care if people do or don’t take it. Their health is none of my business. Personally, I’d like to see if there are long term effects, and I don’t see much of a reason for younger people with no underlying conditions to take it. People expect the vaccine to eradicate covid completely, but it seems to me as though this is an overly idealistic view.” 

Another student believes that there is not enough scientific evidence to support covid vaccinations. “I do not support it. I don’t believe it has been tested and studied enough to thoroughly actually help without repercussions. Not only that but I don’t think it should be required either. And if the covid vaccine is so effective, then why should people around them still be forced to wear masks, if the vaccine really does it’s job? People who get the vaccine are still spreading covid and are still catching it, and even dying from it.”

Students also doubt the effectiveness of masks. 88% think that face coverings should not be required to be worn outside.  “Face coverings must be worn everywhere on campus, indoors/outdoors, and on buses,” regardless of ability to maintain 6ft apart, according to the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) COVID 19 Prevention Program handbook (CPP). 

According to the CPP, face coverings with an exhalation valve or vent and surgical masks are not acceptable to be worn at school. Face coverings may be removed during meals, snacks, and drinking as long as 6 feet distance is maintained from others. Participants in sports are required to wear face coverings when participating in the activity, even with heavy exertion as tolerated, both indoors and outdoors–unless the face covering could become a hazard. Face coverings may also be removed when an employee is alone in a room.

“Face masks are required in all indoor settings per public health. They are not required in outdoor settings,” said Deputy Superintendent, Jennifer Gaviola.

“Public health mandates face masks in k-12 settings because they state: face masks block up to 50-70% of fine droplets and particles that were not captured. Cloth masks also reduce the wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets by filtering fine droplets and particles,” Gaviola said.

The CPP also states that schools in the PRJUSD must “perform routine environmental cleaning following CDC Guidelines” and “routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces.”

Amidst this new era of guidelines and preventative measures, PRHS students want to be able to decide for themselves whether or not they should be vaccinated. While most students (66.1%) agree with the mandatory indoor mask wearing regulation at the high school, most believe that they should choose whether getting the vaccine is the right choice for them.