Local media reports reveal that Centner Academy, a private school in Miami, Florida, known for its anti-vaccine views, is requiring students who get the COVID-19 vaccine to stay home for 30 days after each dose.
Centner Academy has a history of opposing vaccines, often citing debunked claims linking childhood vaccines to conditions like diabetes. The school also assists parents in securing exemptions from Florida's vaccination mandates.
In a recent letter to parents, the school falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines—labeled as "experimental"—could lead to potential transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a precaution, vaccinated students must remain home for 30 days post-injection.
Notably, authorized U.S. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live virus: Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology, while Johnson & Johnson employs a non-replicating viral vector.
When questioned by 7News, co-founders Leila and David Centner stated: "Centner Academy's top priorities are the wellness of our students and their sense of security in our educational environment. We will continue to act in accordance with these priorities. The email sent to families was based on these priorities."
In April, the school drew national attention by asking teachers to forgo vaccination.
Reports from Ars Technica note that the Centners also discouraged mask-wearing and hosted Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democratic figure known for promoting conspiracy theories, including 5G surveillance fears and claims of government overreach during the pandemic.
Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease expert at Florida International University, called these assertions "pure science fiction" in a 7News interview. "I find this terrible, especially from an educational institution," she said, emphasizing vaccines' established safety: "The technology is well established and based on the best science we have."
