Covid vaccinations will be compulsory for all students in California, the state's governor has announced — a first in the US, where vaccine hesitancy has slowed efforts to end the pandemic.

The plan will be phased in as Food and Drug Administration regulators grant full approval for use in younger age groups, reports AFP.

California “will require our kids to get the Covid-19 vaccine to come to school,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work. This is about keeping our kids safe and healthy.”