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WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied an emergency request last Thursday from eight Indiana University students who asked for an injunction against their school’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
“The court’s newest justice rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in,” the Associated Press reported. “Justices often act on their own in such situations when the legal question isn’t particularly close. Barrett handles emergency matters from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which includes Indiana.”
A different federal judge denied the students’ motion for a preliminary injunction on July 18. The policy applies to more than 100,000 students, faculty, and staff at the public university’s seven campuses.
“Students’ refusal is based on legitimate concerns including underlying medical conditions, having natural antibodies, and the risks associated with the vaccine,” the emergency request said. “All students are adults, are entitled to make their own medical treatment decisions, and have a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in the context of a vaccination mandate.”
Students who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 must apply for an exemption based on medical, religious, or ethical reasons and undergo twice-weekly testing, assuming they are excused from the requirement. If their exemption request is denied, unvaccinated students will face complete exclusion from the campus until they comply.
“Students who are not ‘fully vaccinated’ and who have not obtained an exemption by the [August 1] deadline will have their class registrations canceled, student ID card and online portal access terminated, and will be prohibited from participating in campus activities,” LifeSiteNews previously reported.
The vaccine requirement could still face other legal issues in the state. Under House Bill 1405, no unit of government in the Hoosier State can implement a vaccine passport requirement. The Attorney General of Indiana said that the current law does not ban vaccine requirements, but does ban universities from requiring proof of vaccination.
“Indiana University’s policy, however, unquestionably violates the new law. IU explicitly states in its announcement and on its FAQ page1 that all students, faculty, and staff must use a specific COVID-19 vaccination reporting form and provide proof of vaccination in the form of an upload or scan of their vaccination card,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita argued in his non-binding legal analysis.
“Furthermore, providing documentary evidence of being fully vaccinated from COVID-19 is a prerequisite to continued employment for faculty and staff, and continued enrollment at the university for students. IU provides no alternative or option to vaccination for its students, faculty, or staff, and has noted that exemptions will be limited,” Rokita said.
The public university system still requires students, faculty and staff to report their vaccination status.
Cardiologist Peter McCullough has described the ten key reasons he sees for why people should be hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccines, including myocarditis, or heart inflammation, in young people.
“It is known that myocarditis causes injury to heart muscle cells and may result in permanent heart damage leading to heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac death,” McCullough explained. “Because this risk is not predictable and the early reports may represent just the tip of the iceberg, no individual under age 30 under any set of circumstances should feel any obligation to take this risk with the current genetic vaccines, particularly the Pfizer and Moderna products.”