Could Texas students eventually be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine? For now, doctors are more concerned that vaccinations against other illnesses are lagging this year. For now, the answer is no. Receiving the coronavirus shot is a voluntary process, and neither of the authorized vaccines is approved for use in young children. It could be months or longer before there’s a vaccine available for kids, and it’s unclear whether even that would lead to a push for a mandate in Texas. “Until we have data that shows good efficacy and safety in children, then conversations about whether it will be suggested or mandated for school attendance is something that’s about 75 steps down the road,” said Dr. Jason Terk, a pediatrician in Keller and chair of the Texas Public Health Coalition.