Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied a petition calling on the Supreme Court to block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate at Indiana University.
According to NBC News, the university requires students attending classes in the fall semester to be vaccinated. Barrett is the justice in charge of that region of the United States and decided without dissents from other justices.
Eight students from the university called on the court for an emergency order, as the outlet reports. They told the justices, “Protection of others does not relieve our society from the central canon of medical ethics requiring voluntary and informed consent.”
James Bopp, a lawyer for students, also told the justices, “IU is coercing students to give up their rights to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in exchange for the discretionary benefit of matriculating at IU.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education has counted more than 720 colleges requiring at least some students or employees to be vaccinated.
Indiana University spokesperson Chuck Carney told CNN that 85% of students, faculty, and staff “are approaching full vaccination.”
He added, “With a third ruling, now from the nation’s highest court, affirming Indiana University’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, we look forward to beginning fall semester with our health and safety policies in place.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked during an appearance on “Morning Joe” Tuesday if teachers should be mandated to get the vaccine, as IJR reported.
“I’m going to upset people on this, but I think we should,” Fauci said.
He added, “We are in a critical situation now. We’ve had 615,000 plus deaths, and we are in a major surge now as we’re going into the fall, into the school season. This is very serious business.”
Fauci acknowledged “people must like to have their individual freedom and not be told to do something, but I think we’re in such a serious situation now that under certain circumstances, mandates should be done.”