Disney Requiring Children 5 and Up to Be Vaccinated for Cruises, RI Not Moving Forward for Schools
Friday, November 19, 2021
If your 5-year-old wants to go on a Disney Cruise and enjoy a breakfast with Mickey, then they must be vaccinated.
"Omelets, Mickey waffles and French toast taste better when you add a delicious visit from popular Disney pals! On select cruises of 7 nights or longer, guests can pose for souvenir pics, collect autographs and spend quality time with Mickey, Minnie and the gang or a host of Disney Junior pals," says Disney.
Now, Disney Cruise Line announced that all travelers aged 5-years-old and older must be vaccinated.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile the cruise line is requiring vaccinations, the Rhode Island Director of Health -- Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott -- has refused to begin the process to develop regulations to require vaccination for Rhode Island school children.
Presently, Rhode Island requires ten vaccinations for children to attend school. And, six vaccinations are required for children to attend a licensed daycare facility in the state
Disney provides for no exceptions starting in the new year.
“This will be a requirement for all guests (US and international) ages 5 and up for sailings beginning on or after January 13, 2022,” said the company.
“Guests who are not vaccine-eligible because of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. Guests ages 5 through 11 may complete this testing requirement in lieu of being fully vaccinated for sailings that depart before January 13, 2022. Guests 4 years of age and under must complete the testing requirements. The test should be a NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted."
Disney Yes, Rhode Island No
While Disney has moved forward, Rhode Island health officials have yet to start the process for requiring vaccination for K-12 students.
In order for Rhode Island to require vaccinations for school children, RIDOH needs to promulgate regulations and that process takes approximately four months. Regulations have to be drafted, there must be time for public comments and then final regulations must be written.
RIDOH has not begun the process.
A spokesman for the RIDOH, Joseph Wendelken, said the agency is not looking to develop regulations now.
“At this time, we are not initiating the process of amending Rhode Island’s school immunization schedule. Because at this time our focus is on access for children and on education about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine for parents and families."
Dr. Michael Fine, the former Rhode Island Director of Health, urges that the regulatory process should begin immediately.
"It takes months to finalize regulations. It is important to lower the transmission rate. Getting children vaccinated is critical to ending the pandemic," said Fine.
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