In The News: Is it legal to require a COVID-19 vaccine for colleges and schools?

Now that every American 16 and older is eligible to get vaccinated, colleges and universities are announcing vaccine requirements for students to attend in-person learning this Fall. Is that legal? Will we see similar mandates in elementary and high schools? This article explains more.

Colleges and universities across the country are starting to require students to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to in-person learning this fall. Some people are questioning the legality of this requirement. Is it legal to require someone to get a vaccine? Megan Collins, attorney for Welch, Donlon, & Czarples PLLC, explained how this mandate is legal. “If they do not have a religious or a medical basis for being exempt from the vaccine requirement, they can still fully engage in their education on a remote basis instead of in-person,” she said. “So under those parameters, yes I do think that requiring a COVID vaccine is legal for institutions.” In terms of public and state-run education systems, Collins says this is in the air.

Read this full article in ABC 10: Is it legal to require a COVID-19 vaccine for colleges and schools?