“Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools” Rescinded

State Public Health Officer Order of September 13, 2022

Since the start of the pandemic, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has led with science and data to better understand this disease. California has seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of Californians that are fully vaccinated and boosted. At present 80% of Californians 12 years of age and older have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, and 48% have received their first booster dose. Vaccines for children 5-11 years of age have been available since October 2021. Vaccine coverage is also high among workers in high-risk settings, and the proportion of unvaccinated workers is low. As we’ve also seen, the Omicron subvariants have shown immune escape and increased transmissibility, and while unvaccinated individuals still have higher risk of infection, previously infected, vaccinated, and boosted persons have also been infected. Consequently, mandated testing of the small number of unvaccinated workers is not effectively preventing disease transmission as with the original COVID-19 virus and prior variants earlier in the pandemic.

On August 11th and August 24th the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in updated guidance, also indicated that screening testing is no longer recommended in general community settings.

COVID-19 vaccination and boosters continue to remain the most important strategy to prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19.

Consequently, while COVID-19 remains with us, I am rescinding the August 11, 2021 State Public Health Officer Order effective September 17, 2022. The goal for California remains to preserve safe and in-person schooling. As indicated in the CA SMARTER PLAN, the next phase of mitigation in schools will focus on long-term prevention and preserves safe in-person schooling, which is critical to the mental and physical health and development of our children.