Indiana University's policy says that students, faculty and staff must have Covid-19 vaccinations by 15 August. Eight students had sued to have the rule scrapped, alleging it violated their right to make their own choices. But the judge disagreed in his ruling, noting students have other methods to avoid vaccination. In their complaint, the students alleged that their constitutional rights to "personal autonomy" and to reject medical treatment were being trampled.
US District Course Judge Damon Leichty found, however, that the school's policy does not amount to forced vaccinations. The judge wrote that the students have a number of options open to them, including applying for medical deferrals, taking a semester off or attending another school. Religious and ethical exemptions are also available for students to request on the university's website.
The students had cited a number of reasons for opposing the policy, including a statistically low risk of contracting Covid-19 and the unclear long-term impact of the vaccine.
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