COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Postponed

Good Afternoon OPA Families and Staff,

I hope you all had a wonderful week and an amazing Spring Break! As some of you may have heard, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a statement today regarding the timeline for COVID-19 vaccination requirements in schools. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet fully approved COVID-19 vaccines for individuals of all ages within the 7-12 grade span, COVID-19 vaccinations will not be required for the 2022-2023 school year. Therefore, the CDPH will not initiate the process to make the COVID-19 vaccination part of the vaccinations required for in-person attendance until full FDA approval and no sooner than July 1, 2023.

The CDPH is still encouraging all Californians, including children, to get vaccinated against COVID-19. For more information on getting vaccinated or boosted, or to make an appointment, visit My Turn or call (833) 422-4255.

As a reminder, please make sure to keep your student home and contact the school if he or she has COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. Currently the Omicron BA.2 subvariant is causing a rise in COVID-19 cases across the US and the world, so we want to make sure all OPA champions and staff remain safe and healthy. If you would like to have your student tested for COVID-19, we offer free testing at each school site (both PCR and rapid antigen). To have your child tested, please reach out to your child's school.

Thank you all for your support of our OPA champions. I hope to see you at our upcoming STEAM Showcases. Have a wonderful weekend OPA!

Amy Kernan
Executive Director