Elizabeth Aguilera / CalMatters

The state decides it won’t require COVID vaccines for children this fall, and a bill to mandate kid's vaccines without personal belief exemptions stalls out.

A group of California legislators has crafted vaccine laws that would be the most aggressive state approach to vaccines in the nation.

Lawmakers want to create stricter vaccine mandates, especially for children. They anticipate an especially fierce fight in the coming months.

The number of California children diagnosed with COVID-19 during the omicron variant surge has “skyrocketed,” challenging earlier notions that the coronavirus largely bypassed children. Child vaccination rates are relatively low, and children who contract COVID-19 could be at increased risk for rare conditions and diabetes.

California wants to restart in-person inspections of child care centers. Providers are worried that the inspectors, who may not be vaccinated, could jeopardize the health of their charges and their business.