Schools, colleges and states that require students to be immunized against COVID-19 risk losing federal money, under a new White House order signed by US President Donald Trump.
The order is not expected to have a significant national impact, as mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations have largely been suspended in schools and colleges across the US, and many states have passed laws prohibiting such mandates.
The regulation orders the Ministry of Education and Health to create a plan to suspend mandatory vaccination against Covid-19.
It is not clear what money could be used as a means of pressure, given that most federal money for education is approved by Congress, not the federal government or the White House.
The aim of the regulation is to send a message to Trump voters that a presidential campaign promise has been fulfilled.
The regulation applies exclusively to COVID-19 vaccines. All US states still require schoolchildren to be vaccinated against a range of infectious diseases.
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