1/13/2022 – Board Approved Student Vaccination Plan

Background:

On 10/31/21, The HSHMC Board of Directors passed a vaccination mandate plan designed to add to the safety and welfare of our students, staff and community. The plan has been highly successful in obtaining a vaccination rate of 99% for students who attend campus programming.

There is now a need to update that plan to respond to CDC recommendations for booster shots.

CDC reports that studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection with variants may decrease over time and due to changes in variants. And that the recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.

Policy Update:

Students eligible for COVID 19 Booster Shots must receive those shots as determined by current CDC eligibility guidelines. This policy will be updated in response to any changes in CDC guidelines that affect vaccinations and boosters.

  1. Students must provide documentation of the Booster shot. Students will be given a grace period of 30 days from when their eligibility begins to allow time to schedule appointments.
  2. Currently eligible students will need to show documentation on or before March 1, 2022.
  3. Families are encouraged to use the health provider of their choice and should know the booster shots are available at several local pharmacies. In addition, HSHMC will attempt to regularly schedule and post any on site vaccination clinics that will be available for students, families and community members.
  4. Students may apply for exemptions or conditional admission (see Board Policy 10/12/21 for criteria).
  5. Students who are unable to comply with this policy will not be permitted on campus and families should seek enrollment at another school. The school will work diligently to update and inform students and families of their vaccination status as it pertains to this policy.

 

Board Approved Student Covid-19 Vaccination Plan

After inviting and receiving public comment today and an extended discussion, our HSHMC Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the Required Student COVID 19 Vaccination Plan. Thank you to those who took the time to speak to our board to voice your opinions. At HSHMC, we have always been committed to the safety, health and well-being of our students, their families, and our local community. It is because of this commitment that we have decided to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all HSHMC students 12 years and older. By November 15, all students will be required to have their first shot administered, unless they have a qualified exemption.  By January 1, 2022, all HSHMC students will be required to show proof of vaccination to be permitted on campus, unless they have a qualified exemption. Students without the vaccine may still participate in our independent study program. The complete plan and timeline is available on our website. The first step to the plan is as follows:

By November 15

  • Vaccination clinic at HSHMC for those needing 1st or 2nd doses
  • Proof of Administration of 1st Dose or Qualified Exemption or Conditional Admission is Required
  • Students who do not provide documentation of 1stdose, or submit a medical exemption or conditional admission, will not be allowed on campus.
  • Students who do not provide above documentation will be referred to Independent Study beginning November 16

After reviewing the most up-to-date public health advice from the CDC, we believe that this measure is the most effective way for us to protect the health and safety of our students, their families, as well as all HSHMC staff. We will be offering reminders to our students throughout the fall semester, and will be hosting free vaccine clinics on campus several times before the end of the year October 25, November 15, and December 6). If you have medical concerns, please contact your medical provider.

With this new mandate, we hope to continue our mission of providing a safe learning environment to all of our students. Together, we can reach peak immunity at HSHMC!

POLICY

 

On October 1, 2021, Governor Newsom announced that the COVID 19 Vaccine is being added to the list of required school vaccinations. This followed actions taken by Los Angeles and San Diego Unified School Districts which mandated COVID vaccines in order for students to attend in person learning. And now school boards throughout the State are adopting vaccination plans and timelines to require all eligible California students would need to show proof of vaccination. On October 12, 2021, HSHMC will hold a Board meeting, and after public comment, the Board will take action on its Student Vaccine Plan.

 

HSHMC STUDENT VACCINATION PLAN:

To Be Considered for Approval 10/12/21

 

Background

HSHMC has been steadfast in our commitment to make safety of our students, families, and community a priority of the highest magnitude during the pandemic.

  • Our attention to safety includes our decisions to close campus programs last year and to reopen campus programs with masking, testing and other recommended safety protocols in place.
  • Part of our reopening plan was to require COVID-19 Vaccines for all HSHMC teachers and staff.
  • Although circumstances and knowledge surrounding this pandemic continue to change, we have tried to make our decisions based on the best available science and recommendations of health organizations and authorities.
  • We continue to leverage the policy decisions of other school districts who have taken safety-based changes in policies and practices. We continue to monitor applicable laws and legal opinions.
  • Health organizations have concluded the effectiveness and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines clearly outweigh known or potential risks. According to a study published by the CDC using data from the Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET), pediatric hospitalizations for adolescents aged 0-17 were evaluated from March 1, 2020-August 14, 2021, and showed that pediatric hospitalization rates were 5 times higher in August 2021 compared to June 2021, and further, that the hospitalization rate among unvaccinated adolescents (aged 12-17 years) was 10 times higher than that among fully vaccinated adolescents.
  • Vaccines are the most preventive of all strategies. Unlike masking, ventilation, and testing, vaccination protects students before the virus is introduced into the setting, reducing disease and new mutations.
  • Vaccines also protect unvaccinated family members and others who have and haven’t been vaccinated.
  • School-age children get sick and contribute to new infections and variants. They are the greatest proportion of unvaccinated in US. More children have been hospitalized recently than any previous time during the pandemic.
  • HSHMC continues to offer on site vaccination clinics to allow easy access to vaccinations to eligible students, HSHMC families and interested community members.
  • We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines continue to be the best tool to end this pandemic once and for all. These vaccines are safe and effective, and the data has unequivocally shown that they prevent severe illness and death as a result of COVID-19 – nearly all of those who are ending up in ICU beds and dying are unvaccinated.
  • Students have always had to show proof of all required vaccinations or exemption to attend campus learning.

HSHMC Vaccination Plan Details

 

  • All HSHMC students 12 years and older will be required to comply with our vaccination plan requirements as a mandatory precondition to accessing HSHMC school facilities.
  • Our plan is to implement a vaccination mandate. All students who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine are required to be vaccinated, excluding those with qualified exemptions or conditional admissions. Documentation of vaccination status, exemptions or requests for conditional admittance must be provided pursuant to the timeline outlined below.
  • Our plan is to reach peak immunity by January 1, 2022. Students who do not meet timelines in this plan to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will not be permitted on the school campus and referred to the school’s independent study program, unless an exemption or conditional admissions apply. Students will receive regular reminders throughout the Fall semester to get their vaccine and provide their vaccination information.
  • A qualified exemption includes a medical exemption from a medical provider.
  • Students may be conditionally admitted if they are in one of these groups: foster youth, homeless, migrant, military family, or has an IEP. State law does not recognize religious or personal belief exemptions for student immunizations.
  • Vaccination requires parental consent for students under the age of 18.
  • Students who have already been infected with COVID-19 still require vaccination. While getting COVID-19 may offer some natural immunity from reinfection, it is not clear how long the immunity lasts. Because your child can still get reinfected with COVID-19 and have medical complications, the CDC recommends that those who have had COVID-19 get the COVID-19 vaccine. If your child received monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, it is recommended to wait 90 days before getting vaccinated.
  • The school will maintain a testing protocol for vaccinated students and a rigorous testing protocol for students who are exempted or conditionally admitted.
  • Our vaccine plan provides adequate time for eligible students to get vaccinated or obtain a medical exemption or request conditional admission. And our plan offers ample time for referral and request to HSHMC’s Independent Study program.
  • Any enrolled student must attend either our campus program or independent study program or will be considered truant. California law requires that the school engage police and the County if parents violate compulsory attendance laws.
  • Free vaccinations are readily available at local pharmacies and through medical providers. In addition, on site vaccination clinics at HSHMC are currently scheduled for 10/25, 11/15 and 12/6 in collaboration with Sharp Healthcare.
  • Student vaccination records and information will be maintained securely and confidentially.
  • HSHMC will continue to adopt health, safety, and emergency procedures and requirements applicable to facilities and related operations.
  • Families with questions and concerns about the safety of the vaccination are advised to seek information and advice from their medical providers.
  • Families seeking medical exemptions should see their medical provider for consultation and to obtain required documentation.
  • As rules, regulations and advisories change this plan will be modified to stay in compliance.

 

HSHMC Students Ages 12 & Older

Younger students must receive their first vaccine dose by no later than 30 days after their 12th birthday, and their second dose by no later than 8 weeks after their 12th birthday.