Supreme Court Justice refuses block by Indiana University on COVID-19 vaccine mandate

WASHINGTON: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday (Aug 12) refused to block a plan by Indiana University to require students and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Barrett's action came in response to an emergency request from eight students, and it marked the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate. Some corporations, states and cities have adopted vaccine requirements for workers or even to dine indoors, and others are considering doing so.

The students said in court papers that they have “a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in the context of a vaccination mandate". 

They wanted the high court to issue an order barring the university from enforcing the mandate. Seven of the students qualify for a religious exemption. 

College officials across the country have struggled with whether to require vaccinations, with some schools mandating them and others questioning whether they have legal authority to do so. Similar lawsuits against student vaccine requirements have been filed in other states.

The court's newest justice rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in. Justices often act on their own in such situations when the legal question is not particularly close. Barrett handles emergency matters from the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which includes Indiana.

A three-judge federal appeals court panel, including two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, was one of two lower courts to side with Indiana University and allow it to require the vaccinations, even as legal proceedings continue.

The plan announced in May requires roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester.

Students who do not comply will have their registration cancelled and workers who do not will lose their jobs. The policy does have religious and medical exemptions, but exempt students must be tested twice a week for the coronavirus.

The school recently announced that for now, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors while on campus.