NC health officials deny petition seeking COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students 17 and older

CHARLOTTE — The North Carolina Commission for Public Health unanimously voted against a petition that called for high school seniors and any students 17 and older to be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine before school starts.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Gov. Roy Cooper also opposed the mandate.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Dr. Kelly Kimple with NCDHHS said the agency is opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for those 17 and older at this time because “information about vaccine doses and boosters is evolving and it is premature to codify this.”

“With information about vaccine doses, booster scheduling still evolving, we do believe it is premature for the commission to codify the immunization schedule through rulemaking,” Kimple said.

Board members said that while it is too early now, that may change in the future.

“I think the decision that we made today is the right one. Not necessarily that you know, that can’t come back to us later on for when we have more stability in the in the vaccines that are available and what happens to this pandemic are endemic at some point,” said Dr. Ritesh Patel, a commission member.

A spokesperson for Cooper said the governor wants all adults and kids to get vaccinated. He said allowing the commission to work through this process is critical to protecting public health and confidence in all vaccine recommendations.

Stella Anderson, an Appalachian State University professor and current North Carolina State Board of Elections member, was representing the petitioner at the meeting.

She said the goal of the request was to make sure four-year public college students in the UNC System are vaccinated. She said the public college system claims to lack the authority to require vaccines, so she called on the commission to do so since they have the ability to put it in place for K-12 students.

“The vaccine is needed for general safety. Because in its absence, it’s extraordinarily disruptive to all campus operations,” Anderson said.

UNC Charlotte professor Tina Katsanos signed on to the petition and said she expected the result.

“I’m not surprised. I’m disappointed in the decision. I didn’t expect North Carolina to trailblaze on this. We’re not a trailblazer state,” she said.

The decision can also be appealed to Superior Court.

“We do have a problem with the discussion,” said Elizabeth Rorie, Cabarrus County chapter of Moms for Liberty, ahead of the meeting. “It shouldn’t even be discussed.”

Her group believes there are many questions surrounding the vaccine and that no one should be forced to take it, let alone teenagers.

“All the data is not there to support it, so if some people believe it, that’s fine,” Rorie said. “It’s a personal choice. These choices should be made at home so I do not understand why they are discussing it at this point.”

[ALSO READ: Duke University to require COVID-19 vaccinations for fall term]

Some private schools like Duke and Queens universities have mandated the vaccine but that’s not true for state schools.

“I get it. It’s a choice but at the same time, going to school is a choice, too,” UNC Charlotte student Abner Locklear said. “I feel like if you need to be vaccinated, then I think it’s a good move.”

“I understand where their safety is coming from,” student Tommy Vairo said. “They just want the numbers to go down, I feel, like, also at the same time people should have the choice whether they get the vaccine or not.”

“I believe it should be mandatory for everyone, because I think safety is the top priority,” international student Mohad Gupta said.

Currently, vaccination rates for 18 to 24 years old is 54%, and 47% fir children 12 to 17 years old.

(Watch the video below: State officials in 2020 address the spread of COVID-19 at universities)

State officials address the spread of COVID-19 at universities

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