University can vaccinate students, judge rules

Magistrate Damon Leachty of the South Bend Court, east of Chicago, was the first to rule on the matter, but it will be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Eight students were urgently taken over, and he refused to suspend the new health rules imposed in view of the resumption of classes on campuses between Indiana University 1.^Is And August 15.

These rules make vaccinations mandatory for its 90,000 students and 40,000 employees, but provide exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

Judge Damon wrote that the Constitution “allows students to” refuse medical treatment on the principle of their right to dispose of their body. ”

But it does empower “to impose a reasonable vaccination process for the legitimate interest of public health.” “The university did the same,” he said in a hundred-page decision.

Of the eight complainants, six were already exempt for religious reasons, but he recalled not wanting to wear a mask or respect social distance.

Some have religious motives or fear of being discriminated against, while others describe the act as a “cultural attack,” the magistrate wrote. However, all of them, in recent months, have agreed to adopt these health measures on other occasions, he points out.

The vaccine campaign in the United States, which has made tremendous progress against the pandemic, has stalled in recent weeks. 68% of adults received at least the first dose, but there were large geographical differences.

Opposition to the vaccine has been linked to American political divisions, with much hostility on the right, especially among Donald Trump supporters.

Many traditional groups, such as the Turning Point Student Union, have launched campaigns against compulsory vaccinations on campuses and supported complaints across the country.

Universities have taken up various positions, and currently half a thousand of their students or staff need anti-covid-19 injections.