Hundreds of parents gathered at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) April 7 over concerns COVID-19 vaccines would become mandatory for students without parental consent. During a regularly scheduled OCDE board meeting, more than 100 people spoke out against a widely-circulating—and unverified—claim that Orange County’s top doctor would force public school students to be inoculated. Another group of parents remained outside the district building in Costa Mesa to protest. However, the OCDE—alongside Orange County’s top doctor—have said there are no plans to do force vaccines on children. County health officer Dr. Clayton Chau on April 8 called the accusations leveled against him “far from the truth.” “Treatment for children is California state law, so a health officer cannot go against the state law,” Chau told reporters during a press conference. “I certainly do not have the authority to take away the parental rights. I have never believed in not involving the …