UPDATED 16:00 EDT to reflect new Covid guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

In a crowded field of Democrats running to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District, which covers Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, one has set herself apart by saying she doesn’t support mandatory Covid vaccines for public school children.

A career public defender and advocate for parents, Maud Maron told The New York Sun via text message today that the vaccine doesn’t prevent infection or transmission, “and as a result the mandate is unjustifiable.”

“Families can decide what is best for their kids. Denmark does not even make available or recommend to most kids,” Ms. Maron said. “The available data does not support vaccines for kids.”

In another sign that the pandemic is waning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its Covid guidelines Thursday and dropped the recommendation that Americans quarantine if they’ve been in close contact with an infected person. It also said people don’t need to stay at least 6 feet away from others anymore.

When it comes to schoolchildren, the CDC dropped its “test to stay” suggestion that unvaccinated students who have come in contact with an infected person must be tested before returning to school, as well its recommendations for daily testing following an infection. 

The move appears to be in recognition that an estimated 95 percent of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, according to the Associated Press.

Ms. Maron’s comments come a day after six Democratic candidates appeared in a televised debate ahead of the August 23 primary. 

All of them — attorney Dan Goldman; a former representative, Elizabeth Holtzman; Representative Mondaire Jones; Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou; Council Member Carlina Rivera: and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon — said they backed mandatory Covid vaccinations.

Ms. Maron, who did not participate in the debate, called them “Covid crazy candidates” that “also suggested a return to masks FOR school kids while sitting next to each other inside maskless.”

“They offered no scenarios where they would have to be masked or forced to vaccinate. Just kids,” Ms. Maron said. “Other people’s kids.”

Ms. Maron also picked up a new endorsement today, from the New Era Democrats, an independent political organization.

The president of the New Era Democrats, John Orlando, said in a press release on the announcement that Ms. Maron is a “liberal Democrat who speaks our language.”

“Maud will continue to fight for justice while not compromising our public safety. As a mother, she will advocate for the long-term health and safety of our children. Most importantly, Maud will not be forced into silence by the extreme wing of the Democratic party,” Mr. Orlando wrote.

Ms. Maron said she was “grateful and excited” for the fresh endorsement, calling herself “the only common sense Democrat” running.

“Today’s endorsement shows that we have the momentum on the ground in this race despite what the media and Democratic establishment would have you believe,” Ms. Maron said.