July 21, 2021 – A federal judge has ruled that Indiana University can require students and employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once they return to campus for the autumn semester.
Judge Damon R. Leichty of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana said he weighed individual liberty against public health concerns in making his decision. The New York Times reported.
Eight students had filed a lawsuit against the university and requested an injunction to dam enforcement of the vaccination requirement. The students' attorney, James Bopp Jr., said Just he would immediately appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
“What we're dealing with here is the government forcing you to do something that you vigorously protest against and putting your body at risk in the process,” Bopp said.
The school announced in May that every one students, faculty and staff should be fully vaccinated by Aug. 15 to return for the autumn semester.
A Press release said students who don't receive vaccination exemptions could have their course registrations canceled, lose access to campus email systems and is not going to be allowed to take part in on-campus activities. Teachers and staff could lose their jobs, the discharge said, adding that working remotely and never meeting vaccination requirements is “not an option.”
There is an identical legal battle over university vaccination requirements in California Just said.
Vaccine mandates are being considered for colleges and universities across the country. The Chronicle of Higher Education says 586 schools have already got some type of vaccination requirement, although some schools say the vaccines will need to have full FDA approval.
The vaccines currently being administered within the United States have emergency use authorization, and vaccine manufacturers have applied for full approval.
Enforcing campus vaccination requirements may very well be difficult. The Wall Street Journal reported that states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah have passed laws prohibiting schools and colleges from requiring Covid-19 vaccination or proof of vaccination.