OCPS Medical Advisory Committee holds Q&A for parents on COVID-19

ORLANDO, Fla — Thursday the Orange County School Board’s Medical Advisory Committee, or MAC, held a question-and-answer session about COVID-19 for district parents.

The two topics on everyone’s minds: vaccinations for kids and the current mask mandate that is in effect until July 1.

READ: Coronavirus: CDC eases mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated Americans

Some MAC members were for zero masks, others thought them necessary only for outdoor recess and another member said it was too soon to make a decision.

For now, Orange County’s Superintendent Barbra Jenkins decided to leave the mask mandate in place and make a decision about the fall semester in June or July.

READ: These Orange County communities have the highest, lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates

OCPS reports receiving more than 700 questions from parents, staff and students about the vaccine. Questions included, should kids be vaccinated, even healthy ones? And will vaccinations need to be done every year? Overall, the medical advisory committee members recommended getting a child vaccinated when possible and that only time will tell if a booster will be needed yearly.

MAC member Dr. Regan Schwartz told parents, “Make no mistake about it, the people sitting here in this room are not to force anyone to do anything but to give our recommendation about how we would treat our family members and ourselves with all the confusing data out there.”

Click here to watch the entire “Ask MAC” Q&A.

Cox Media Group