I am writing to voice my request and sincere hope that the board will mandate vaccines for all school employees, with only medical exemptions allowed. Vaccines are already required for all state employees. In addition, vaccines should be required for all students for whom the vaccine has been fully approved, just as many other vaccines are mandated.My 10th grade daughter and all other kids have sacrificed much over the past 18 months. They only have one childhood. They are finally back to in person school, but we are already seeing constant disruptions to education for far too many due to infections, possible infections based on symptoms, and mandatory quarantines.My daughter and all other students should have a right to be able to attend school without being unnecessarily put at risk by other students and teachers who refuse to be vaccinated, and without constant disruptions to their education. And it sure would be great for them to be able to go to school without masks and without worrying about lunch and other unmasked times, as well as overcrowded busses. The irrational minority should not be dictating the public health policy for VA or the schools.

Upon publication of the Notice of Petition in the Virginia Register of Regulations, and upon completion of the 21-day public comment period, VDH will make a determination - within 90 days of the close of the public comment period - as to whether or not to grant the petition.