BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett DENIES bid from University of Indiana students to block vaccine mandates
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday denied a request from students at Indiana University to block the school's vaccine mandate.
Barrett did not even request a response from the university, nor did she refer the matter to the full court, suggesting she viewed the case as meritless.
The decision is the first significant test for challenges to vaccine mandates.
A group of eight Indiana students had asked the high court to weigh in on the Big Ten school's requirement of students and staff to be vaccinated before returning to campus. The students had requested an injunction from Barrett, who has jurisdiction over the region, after two lower courts upheld the university's requirement.
The university initially was set to require medical records to prove vaccination status, but now simply asks students and staff to attest to their vaccine online. Staffers who lie risk being fired. There are exemptions for religious and medical reasons and students who qualify must be tested for Covid-19 twice a week.
Protesters holding placards gather at Indiana University's Sample Gates during a demonstration in June. Anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers gathered at Indiana University's Sample Gates to protest against mandatory Covid vaccinations IU is requiring for students, staff and faculty during the upcoming fall semester
The protesters say their constitutional rights are being infringed, and have launched a law suit. The University isn't requiring proof of vaccination, but workers who lie can be fired for lying to the university
The eight students argued that 'Protection of others does not relieve our society from the central canon of medical ethics requiring voluntary and informed consent'
A group of eight Indiana students had asked the high court to weigh in on the Big Ten school's requirement of students and staff to be vaccinated before returning to campus
The school will also require students to wear masks indoors whether or not they've been inoculated.
The eight students argued that 'Protection of others does not relieve our society from the central canon of medical ethics requiring voluntary and informed consent.' Six of them had already received religious exemptions.
A federal judge last month ruled the university had 'a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the legitimate interest of public health for its students, faculty, and staff.'
The 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals concurred, citing a 1905 case where the Supreme Court ruled a state can require all members of the public to be inoculated against the chicken pox.
According to a tally from The Chronicle of Higher Education, more than 720 US colleges and universities require their students and staff to have a coronavirus vaccine.
The university initially was set to require medical records to prove vaccination status, but now simply asks students and staff to attest to their vaccine online
In addition to universities, more businesses and localities are instituting their own vaccine mandate-- New York City and Los Angeles will soon require proof of at least one Covid-19 vaccine for indoor dining, gym use and entertainment. San Francisco announced Thursday it would require proof of full vaccination for indoor activities.
Meanwhile, companies such as Amtrak, United, Google, Netflix and Facebook all issued companywide mandates to curb the spread of COVID-19 amid heightened concerns over the Delta variant.
There were 133,777 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday and 324 new deaths. As of Aug. 11, 59.3% of the total US population had at least one vaccine and 50.6% had both shots.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs and Health and Human Services each have their own vaccine requirement, and President Biden has ordered that federal workers and contractors must get vaccinated or adhere to a testing scheme.
The Department of Defense will require vaccines by Sept. 15 or whenever one has full authorization by the Food and Drug Administration , and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled the House of Representatives could require the jab once it's fully approved.