The mother of an East Jefferson High School student who was vaccinated for COVID-19 at a mobile health care unit without parental permission is vowing to sue the school district and Ochsner Health.
Kenner resident Jennifer Ravain’s attorney, G. Shelly Maturin II, said the lawsuit would be filed in Jefferson Parish, with Jefferson Parish Schools and Ochsner identified as defendants.
“No suit has been filed, but is being prepared and will be filed shortly,” Maturin told the Louisiana Record in an email. “I only represent Jennifer Ravain and her son, Jason. I know other students were vaccinated on the same day as my client, but I am not aware of any consent issues with those children.”
Maturin has called the actions of the health care provider and school district egregious and reckless. The unauthorized vaccination allegedly occurred Oct. 20 at the East Jefferson High School campus.
In a statement emailed to the Record, Jefferson Parish Schools said that it was made aware of the incident, which took place at a vaccine event.
“Ochsner Health officials have informed us that they are conducting a thorough investigation of the vaccine event to ensure this was an isolated incident and does not occur again,” the statement said.
Encouraging the vaccination of eligible students helps to reduce the spread of coronavirus and is needed to protect the health and safety of school personnel and students, according to the school district.
“Jefferson Parish Schools has partnered with multiple health care partners to provide vaccination opportunities to eligible employees and students since vaccines first became available,” the statement said. “Our standard operating procedures include obtaining written consent from a parent or legal guardian prior to a student receiving the vaccine during an event conducted at one of our schools.”
Dr. Robert Hart, Ochsner Health’s chief medical officer, has apologized for the incident and said that Ochsner would immediately review its on-site COVID-19 vaccination guidelines and to strictly follow such policies in the future.