American colleges and universities expect to return to pre-COVID life in the fall. Some schools urge students to get the vaccine, but others wonder if they could demand it or legally.
Colleges and universities planning to return to face-to-face education have launched campaigns to vaccinate students before the summer.
Recently, universities such as Rutgers, Brown, Cornell and Northeastern told students that they should be vaccinated before returning to classes in the fall. They are waiting to arrive herd immunity among the student population. They believe it would allow them to lift space restrictions.
“It simply came to our notice then ambiguity about whether people should be vaccinated, ”said Kenneth Henderson. He is the head of Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
He added that making sure students are vaccinated will tell the city or city around them that “we are taking everything appropriate measures “.
Northeastern colleges and other universities that need shots believe they have the legal right to demand student immunization. It is not uncommon for schools to require vaccination of students for other illnesses. Last year, a court recorded a flu vaccine requirement at the University of California.
Leave the decision to the students
However, some colleges believe they cannot legally require immunizations and leave decisions to students.
Virginia Tech University officials say they cannot legally require the vaccine because it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has only approved some vaccines for emergency use in the US
Legal experts say the approval of emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines makes a legal claim more likely. And some schools may not need the vaccine to avoid legal issues.
Harvard Law Professor Glenn Cohen teaches law and health bioethics. He argued that there is no legal reason that schools that require vaccines against COVID-19 should not be allowed. It makes no difference that the shots have not been fully approved, he said.
The problem is that there is no federal law or court decision that helps colleges and universities decide how to move forward.
Other legal issues
The biggest problems could come in states that have already banned or plan to ban any vaccine requirements, Cohen said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned all companies this month that require anyone to prove their vaccination. The order poses problems at New Southeastern University in Florida. It plans to demand that students, faculty and faculty be vaccinated. The university president said he will “respect the laws of our state and all federal directives.”
Texas has also banned the requirement for vaccines.
And then there are other issues for schools that require the vaccine. Federal law says schools must work with any student who rejects a vaccine for medical or religious reasons. In addition, there is no accepted evidence of vaccination.
In the Northeast, officials continue to decide whether students will be asked to show some sort of vaccine record or simply whether they have been vaccinated.
“We would expect students to be honest,” Henderson said.
American colleges are also struggling with what to expect from international students. Some may not have access to vaccines in their home countries. And some may not have access to vaccines approved for emergency use in the U.S.
Several schools say they plan to make photos available to international students when they arrive.
Northeastern student Tyler Lee said he believes requiring vaccinations is the right measure because it will help stop the spread of the virus and protect the community. Students agree with the decision, he said.
“It’s Northeastern’s decision,” Tyler Lee said. “If I didn’t like it, I would like it transfer. And that’s what most students feel, “he added.
I’m Susan Shand.
The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it to learn English. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in this story
herd immunity – n. herd immunity is a form of protection against infectious diseases when a large percentage of the population has become immune to an infection, either through vaccination or previous infections, thus reducing the likelihood of infection for people. who have no immunity.
ambiguity – n. something that does not have a single clear meaning
appropriate – adj. correct or appropriate for some purpose or situation
bioethics – n. the study of ethical issues arising from advances in biology and medicine.
transfer – v. moving to another school
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