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Has Katie Hobbs said she supports mandating the COVID-19 vaccine in Arizona public schools?

By Austin Tannenbaum
NO

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Arizona, has not taken a public stance on COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Arizona public schools.

During a recent campaign event, when asked if she would add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccines required to attend public school in Arizona, Hobbs said, "That is not something I have contemplated." 

After being asked a follow-up question about which principles she would use to make such a decision, Hobbs responded, "Science-driven, looking to the the experts for what's the best thing for the health and safety of Arizonans."

Hobbs is generally supportive of the COVID-19 vaccine, stating last year:

“Vaccines are our best path to defeat this pandemic and keep our economy open. This is the right move to protect Arizonans and our economic recovery.”

As of October 2022, only the District of Columbia has implemented a school COVID-19 vaccine mandate, while California's is pending.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.
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