Sometimes, figuring out what’s next is as simple as reading between the lines. This week, the New Jersey Department of Health announced it will host a Facebook Live session for parents of K-12 students for a conversation about child health and school safety.
While it seems like a genuine attempt to provide health information and guidance to millions of parents who don’t trust Governor Phil Murphy, Judith Persichilli or the New Jersey Government when it comes to deciding what’s best for their children, there appears to be a hidden message in the event flyer.
“Parents, join us for a conversation with trusted healthcare professionals about measures to keep children safe as schools fully reopen this fall,” the DOH wrote on the flyer. “We’ll answer your question and address other topics including COVID-19 vaccination, routine childhood immunizations, screening and testing.”
Meshing the current COVID-19 vaccination with “routine childhood immunizations” could be a signal that the state is now considering adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of mandated vaccinations for students.
As of now, the COVID-19 vaccine is approved only for children aged 12 and above, but that could be changing in the near future. Rough estimates now predict possible approval for a COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 and under could see approval by early 2022, if not sooner.
The panel will be hosted by Judith Persichilli, the New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner who signed off on the 2020 order that forced New Jersey assisted living facilities to take in COVID-19 positive patients. That decision might have lead to the death of thousands of New Jersey seniors in long term nursing and veterans care homes.
The Department of Justice continues investigating that decision although it has dropped similar cases in New York and Michigan.