On Friday morning, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced at Denman Middle School that students from elementary to high school will be required to be vaccinated as soon as the federal government approves of the vaccine for different age groups. This comes as an addition to the mandate from August for staff in K-12 schools to either get vaccinated or to undergo weekly testing as well as requiring masks for indoor classes.

Currently approved are the vaccinations of everyone 16-up, and emergency vaccinations for ages 12-15. Pfizer approved the vaccine for ages 5-11 recently, and final approval from the federal government is currently pending.

“There may be a few people who aren’t happy with the mandate,” Monte Vista junior Zeeshan Mehmood said. “But for the most part, I think the community of students and parents will feel safer and reassured about being in class around other students.”

Newsom views the mandate with pride and excitement. According to him, over 50 million doses have been administrated, which has contributed to California having one of the lowest case rates in the United States.

“Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work,” Newsom tweeted this morning. “This is about keeping our kids safe & healthy.”