(The Center Square) – The New Orleans public school district made national news when it became one of the first districts in the country to mandate COVID vaccines for students in December 2021.
That ended Aug. 1 when a state law ended vaccine-mandate policies in Louisiana schools. Louisiana passed legislation in June ending the mandate requiring students 5-and-up to get the COVID-19 vaccination to attend any public or nonpublic school.
Louisiana Legislators voted 26-9 to approve House Bill 46, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Edmonston, that provides no person will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of enrollment or attendance at any public or nonpublic school, effective Aug. 1, 2024.
The governor signed this action on Jun. 19, 2024, becoming Act No. 674.
“During the COVID-19 health emergency, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS), in coordination with 37 charter school operators, requested the OPH [Office of Public Health] to add COVID-19 immunizations to the immunization schedule for 86 public schools serving Orleans Parish students with the understanding that families would have the right to opt out. The OPH granted the request, effective Feb. 1, 2022,” said a spokesperson for Nola Public Schools.
School vaccination requirements are established according to the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (OPH) approved immunization schedule.
