UAIS students respond to vaccine mandates

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Junior Jennifer McWethy

With UAIS going back to in-person learning and activities outside of school starting to open up again, the COVID vaccine has been a big topic of discussion. This begs the question- How are vaccine mandates affecting the student body?

The COVID vaccine poses as a very controversial subject, branching outside of the weekly school days. Students’ jobs, parties, and even the restaurants they eat at are all common activities that could potentially be affected by a COVID vaccine mandate.

There has been no requirement of the COVID vaccine to attend in-person learning at UAIS, and the whole district for that matter. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as COVID guidelines are constantly changing and as the vaccine is still relatively new.

Although, according to office clerk Ms. Cinco and UCS website, “if you are fully vaccinated and get exposed to a student with COVID, you don’t have to quarantine, as long as you’re symptom-free.”

This doesn’t present a huge issue, but rather a plus for being vaccinated in the school. The student body is presenting positive feedback with receiving the vaccine.

Nisha Koshy, a UAIS Junior, said she “highly encourages everyone to get the vaccine if they can.”

Koshy’s own mother works as a front liner in a hospital and deals with COVID patients every day who are often unvaccinated.

So, it seems like the district isn’t mandating it, but they, along with students at school, still encourage it. But how are vaccine mandates affecting student life outside school?

Sandra Attisha, UAIS Junior, said “the vaccine was not required” where she had worked.

Other students indicated the same. So, if it isn’t being required in these situations, when is it? Well, that’s hard to say.

For instance, the Boston/New York trip, set to take place this spring, is just one school trip that does require it, as that is New York policy. But the Peru trip currently does not. In essence, it all depends and relies on the student to pay attention to the guidelines with whatever event/activity they are participating in.

In the end, it seems like the topic of a vaccine mandate at school is far from being put in place. The general consensus between students, staff, and even the CDC is to get vaccinated to help stop the spread of COVID, to help those who are severely ill and lessen the burden of our frontline workers. Although having the vaccine would pose as beneficial student life in terms of what activities students can participate in, the district is leaving that up to the individual.