The Mayor of Washington, D.C. announced Thursday that there will be no school options available for unvaccinated students in the city.
QUICK FACTS:
- Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed in a briefing that there are no virtual options for students who have chosen not to get vaccinated this year.
- “They can go to school on Monday,” Bowser told reporters. “But they need to get their vaccinations.”
- When asked if there would be online learning available for unvaccinated students, the Mayor said there would be no such options.
- After a reporter from the Daily Signal pointed out that this move leaves around 40% of black students without schooling, Bowser claimed that she didn’t “think that number is correct.”
- “We have substantially fewer number of kids that we have to engage with vaccination,” she responded. “And I explained why it’s important. It’s important for the public health of our students and that we can maintain safe environments.”
DC MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER ON FORCING STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED IN ORDER TO ATTEND SCHOOL:
“We’re not offering remote learning for children, and families will need to comply with what is necessary to come to school,” Bowser said.
BACKGROUND:
- Bowser faced criticism in August 2021 after officiating a large wedding in the District despite implementing an indoor mask mandate the day prior.
- The Mayor was also spotted breaking her own COVID restrictions in November 2020 to attend President Biden’s election victory speech in Delaware, deeming it to be “essential travel” at the time.
- The current mandate for schools in the district requires students over the age of 12 to receive the COVID vaccine in order to be in the classroom.
