COVID-19 Injury Lawyers

Can Colleges Mandate the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Posted June 21, 2021

With 400 colleges back on campus, students have been wondering if they will have to get the COVID-19 vaccine. As of now, 300 of the 400 colleges are requiring students to get the vaccine. Since colleges already require vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, it is only to be expected that students want to know if the COVID-19 vaccine is next. 

What are the legal complications of mandating the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Since none of the COVID-19 vaccines were fully approved by the FDA, there is some debate on the legality of it. All three vaccines were sent out for emergency use by authorization of the FDA. Even though these colleges and universities can’t legally require it, they have been coming up with new ways to keep unvaccinated students off campus. At Brown University, students who forgo the vaccine and have no valid exemption must file a petition to study remotely or take a leave of absence. Campuses will give more leeway to students who get the vaccine versus those who don’t. This leeway includes providing classes on campus, no social distancing in classrooms, and masks won’t have to be worn as often.  

Colleges and Universities Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine, Proof of Vaccine

Even though it is illegal for a school to require it, 15 states have already made it mandatory to show proof of vaccination. So far these states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition to requiring proof of the vaccination, North Dakota is giving students incentives to get vaccinated which include not having to wear a mask campus wide. 

Legal Complications of Mandating the Vaccine to College Students

According to the CDC, the federal government can not stop schools from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. If one is a part of a sports team, club, or any other area where you are in close proximity to another person, you must get the vaccine to not wear a mask. It is because of this threat to keep wearing a mask that most people have decided to get the vaccine, others have decided to take this to the court system. 

Side Effects of the Vaccine in Young Adults

The concern now is that the colleges and universities requiring the vaccine are not taking into effect the possible side effects that can harm students’ health. In recent studies, some young adults who got the COVID-19 vaccine have shown heart complications. The CDC says as of Thursday, June 10th, there is data on cases of myocarditis and pericarditis found through a government safety system. These side effects have been found more commonly in young men rather than women but there are still a few cases. The symptoms of this include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever. 

To learn more about whether or not your students’ rights are being violated by their college or university, you should contact the COVID-19 Injury lawyers today!

Posted in COVID-19.

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