A private school in Miami introduced a new policy requiring students who get the COVID-19 vaccine to quarantine for 30 days before returning to school.
After its announcement, the school received a letter from the Florida Department of Education saying the policy was being investigated.
Centner Academy urged parents to wait to vaccinate their children until the summer. The school planned to offer students in the post-vaccination quarantine remote learning options.
In a letter to parents, the school wrote, “Because of the potential impact on other students and our school community, vaccinated students will need to stay at home for 30 days post-vaccination for each dose and booster they receive and may return to school after 30 days as long as the student is healthy and symptom-free.”
The school cited concerns about potential transmissions as well as possible vaccine “shedding.”
The Center For Disease Control describes vaccine shedding as “the release or discharge of any of the vaccine components in or outside of the body” that occurs when a vaccine contains a weakened version of the virus.”
As “none of the vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. contain a live virus,” the CDC labels concerns about shedding a myth.
The use of the term prompted local media outlets to say the school’s letter and policy were based on false information about COVID-19.
In the official letter, Jacob Oliva, the education department’s senior chancellor, told Centner Academy it had “various obligations under the law — specifically, both attendance and health, safety and welfare requirements. To that end, let me encourage you to review your policies and, if necessary, immediately conform them to applicable law.”
Centner’s chief operating officer, Bianca Erickson, responded to the DOE letter on Oct. 22, saying the school “will continue to be in compliance with all applicable laws.”
“Please note, however, that the plan as announced was not implemented prior to receipt of your letter and we will not pursue any such measures,” Erickson wrote. “We conclude our response by confirming that Centner Academy is not requesting any student to quarantine at home due to vaccination status.”
This is not the first time the private school has limited a vaccinated person’s access to the school.
“In April, Centner Academy asked its employees to wait until the end of the school year to get vaccinated, but still cautioned if they did, they would not be allowed to return for the next academic year,” reports CNN.
Centner Academy offers classes for students in pre-school through high school, serving approximately 300 students.
