Bad news for schools if this is what they are thinking. We need to start with the assumption that kids (at least 12 and under) probably won't be vaccinated until fall 2021 (12-15 maybe in the summer....16-18 spring)....and then we don't know what the vaccine mandate looks like:
1. It assumes Congress will authorize another huge COVID relief bill. Unlikely, given the s show with the current one, even if the Ds are able to win both Georgia Senate seats.
2. By the time it deploys, we are well into vaccinating most of the population
3. It would set a similar standard of care for youth sports which is troublesome
4. They seem to be leaning towards rapid tests, and only once a week, to save money which means it's not enough to even prevent an outbreak (only to shut down things once one detected, even if by false positives).
5. It means starts and stops in schooling are likely to continue for the foreseable future until COVID "disappears".
6. They are doubling down on the idea we need to get to zero transmission for things to return to normal
If implemented, we are in for a bumpy ride as parents because it's not going to be zero for a while, if ever. Kid's education would be disrupted for at least another year or so....if the thing mutates so the vaccine doesn't stop it as well, or if the vaccine does not stop transmission or has only a limited duration, never.
The proposal under consideration calls for the federal government to cover the cost of providing tests to K-12 schools throughout the country.
www.politico.com