Portland Student Vaccine Mandate Vote Likely To Be Delayed

PORTLAND, OR — Wednesday was set to be the final step in Portland Public Schools deciding on whether or not to impose a vaccine mandate on all students. Now, it looks like it won't happen.

The district staff sent a recommendation to the board that they put off the vote. For six months.

Their argument is that the COVID-19 situation in Portland has changed since they started looking at the situation.

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The move is an abrupt shift.

Staff had recommended that the board move ahead with the mandate. After hearing hours of testimony at their meeting this week, the board was prepared to adopt the plan on November 16.

District Chief of Staff Jonathan Garcia said he thinks that the board should go further than just delaying the vote.

He said that if a vote does happen – even in six months – "We would also be recommending that PPS implement a nonmedical exemption process that is consistent with the Oregon Health Authority’s guidelines that are applied with other immunizations."

None of the board members have yet commented publicly.