Florida schools uncertain if COVID-19 vaccine will be required for students, teachers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Students have a list of vaccinations they need in order to go to school.

But are there any plans in place to require a COVID-19 vaccine for teachers and students in the future?

Local school leaders said the only exception to come to school without shots is if a child has a medical or religious exemption.

Watch: 50 students, staff quarantined after 4 people test positive for COVID-19 at Orange County elementary school

Officials said there is currently no direction from Florida about how to handle a COVID-19 vaccine.

With the Moderna and Pfizer news, Channel 9 asked area school districts if they are planning to add a COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required shots.

Some districts reported they’re waiting on direction from the Department of Health, but a student requirement wouldn’t likely come immediately, in part because the vaccines aren’t widely tested on children.

Dr. Anthony Fauci explained why children are tested after adults, saying, “The reason we do that is that children are vulnerable and you always got to make sure that you’re dealing with a safe and effective vaccine before you even think about putting it into children. You want to get the children to get it as quickly as you possible can. You don’t want to deprive them of access to it, but you want to make sure you’re safe.”

WATCH: 7 moms trespassed from Volusia County School Board meeting over refusal to wear masks

Pfizer sent an email confirming it’s gathering and assessing data in children 12-17 years old, including a group of 100, 12- to 15-year-olds.

So if children won’t be the first to get a vaccine, will teachers and educators get it first? And will they be required to get the vaccine - like health care workers are required to get a flu shot? That is also unclear.

WATCH: Hundreds of Central Florida students returning to classrooms following COVID-19 closures

The state’s draft plan does include utilizing the vaccines for the children program, which already provides free vaccines to eligible children.

See the full report in the video above.

Cox Media Group