Maribel Duarte, the mother of a 13-year-old boy who attends the Barack Obama Global Prep Academy, South LA, says that her son brought home a vaccination card after he received the COVID-19 vaccine at school.
She claims he said yes to the offer of pizza in exchange.
“The lady that gave him the shot and signed the paper told my son, ‘Please don’t say anything. I don’t want to get in trouble.'”
LAUSD claims student matters are confidential. They won’t comment on specifics, but they did state that its “safe schools-to-safe steps incentive program” was meant to make sure there are several steps in place so that vaccinated students can receive prizes. Duarte insists that she is not against the vaccine. Duarte has been vaccinated, but not her son.
“He has problems with asthma and allergy problems,” she stated.
Jennifer Kennedy, an attorney, is closely following the cases against the LAUSD regarding the vaccine mandate. Kennedy said that the problem is that California kids can’t consent to vaccination.
Both sides are seeking to end the mandate.
“The LAUSD does not have the power to add a vaccine to the California school schedule,” she said. “You couldn’t do it if you were a podunk school district and you can’t do it if you’re LAUSD, the second-largest district in the nation. You don’t have that legal authority.”
California’s Department of Public Health manages school vaccines. The state legislature creates laws to implement them.
According to the LAUSD, as of Thanksgiving break, Obama Prep students who are eligible had been vaccinated at 80%.
“It hurt to know he got a shot without my permission, without knowing and without signing any papers for him to get the shot,” Duarte stated.
All students aged 12 years and older must get vaccinated by the LAUSD on January 10. Those who fail to get the vaccine and do not have a legal exemption will be forced to return to online, virtual learning.
