Covid-19 vaccines will be on the 2023 vaccine schedule, but that doesn’t mean they’re required in schools

Covid-19 vaccines will be part of recommended immunization schedules in 2023 for both children and adults, after a unanimous vote by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

That doesn’t make the vaccines mandatory for anyone, a point that was emphasized in a discussion before Thursday’s vote. The board members addressed concerns from the public that adding Covid-19 vaccinations to the schedule would force schools to require the shots.

“We recognize that there is concern around this, but moving Covid-19 to the recommended immunization schedule does...