State Board of Education member Ruben Cortez Jr. is urging the Department of State Health Services to add the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 to the list of immunizations required for all Texas school children.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for ages 16 and up, with approval for younger age groups expected in coming months.
In a letter to DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt, and Executive Commissioner of Health and Human Services Cecile Erwin Young, Cortez pointed out the department’s authority under state law to modify the list of immunizations required in order to attend public schools in Texas.
Cortez represents Brownsville and deep South Texas on the state board. He urged DSHS commissioners to modify the list of required immunizations while pointing out that Gov. Greg Abbott has prohibited school districts across the state from “requiring the very mitigation strategies that have proven most effective” at keeping students and school personnel safe.
As the number of Texans hospitalized with COVID-19 surpasses previous peaks, it is clear Texas is in a state of crisis, that children are at the greatest risk and that Abbott has “abandoned his duties,” the letter states.
“For decades, Texas schools have required immunizations against diphtheria, rubella, mumps, and tetanus, as well as other diseases. Texas law under Sec. 38.001, Texas Education Code, authorizes the Department of State Health Services to “require immunizations against additional diseases as a requirement for admission to any elementary or secondary school.” This authority does not require the governor’s approval,” Cortez says in the letter, adding:
Sec. 531.003, Texas Government Code, states that the goal of the Health and Human Services Commission is to “promote the health of the people of this state by reducing the incidence of disease and disabling conditions.” Since the governor has forsaken this responsibility, it is incumbent on you to take immediate action to protect our children and school employees. Now that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has received full FDA approval and more are on the way, I urge you to add COVID-19 to the list of required school immunizations, effective immediately.
