Coronavirus Vaccine To Be Required For FCPS High School Sports

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools announced Monday it will require high school student athletes to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The requirement begins Nov. 8 for students participating in Virginia High School League winter and spring sports. The vaccine will also be required for other activities that require a physical, including dance team and step team.

The school district cites support from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and ten other sports and medicine organizations for athletes to be vaccinated.

"Vaccinating our students is a critical step in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and minimizing any disruption to learning," wrote Superintendent Scott Brabrand in a letter to families. "The majority of pauses to instruction for our high school students come as a result of exposure during athletic activities, which the Virginia Department of Education classifies as a high-risk activity."

The Nov. 8 deadline allows time for unvaccinated students to fulfill the participation requirement before the winter sports season. According to FCPS, 75.4 percent of Fairfax County teens aged 16 to 18 are fully vaccinated, and 85.7 percent have at least one dose.

The school district already announced a vaccine requirement for employees by late October. Employees who do not get the vaccine will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and show negative results.

FCPS will share more information at a later time about how to show proof of vaccination. The Pfizer vaccine is available for ages 12 and up, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to ages 18 and up. For more information about vaccination opportunities, see the Fairfax County Health Department website or vaccines.gov.