The COVID-19 vaccine would be added to the list of immunizations for school children in New York under a measure proposed this week by Democratic state Sen. Brad Hoylman. 

The bill would take effect 30 days after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants full approval to the vaccine for children and upon the recommendation of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization committee. 

Children under 12 are yet to qualify for the vaccine. But kids who attend school in New York are already require to receive a variety of vaccinations before being the classroom, including  polio, mumps, measles, diphtheria, rubella, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease and hepatitis b.

The bill is being proposed as school is about to start in the state in the coming weeks and as the more contagious delta variant spreads, leading to a rise in hospitalizations this summer. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a universal mandate for masking in schools will be put in place, and school personnel will be required to be vaccinated or be testing weekly for COVID-19. 

“We’re at 19 months into the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and hospitalizations for children sick with COVID-19 are currently at a record high," Hoylman said. "We must do everything we can to make sure there never is a pediatric ICU bed shortage in New York State, and that means requiring immunization against COVID-19 for school children once we know they are safe and effective. New York law currently requires students to receive immunizations against 12 different illnesses. It’s a no-brainer to add COVID-19 to that list.”