A private high school in Watertown is believed to be the first in the state to announce that students will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campus in the fall.

The Taft School sent a letter to parents, pointing out that clinical trials in teens have shown no serious side effects from the vaccine, and emergency use authorization for kids ages 12-15 is expected in the next few months.

The letter goes on to say, "I am confident that requiring the vaccine will let Taft students have the kind of experience they yearn for and could not have this year."

The Connecticut Freedom Alliance is currently suing the state over the repeal of religious exemptions for school vaccinations. That law currently does not include COVID-19 shots.

The state Department of Education says the COVID-19 vaccine will not be required to return to public school in the fall.

News 12 reached out to the Taft School for comment.