![]() Most states (44), however, allow children to be exempt from vaccinations due to religious concerns, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Legislatures in several other states are considering similar legislation. “No employer or government may force or coerce anyone to take these injections, and certainly not when doing so violates sincerely held religious beliefs.New York recently became the fifth state – after California, Maine, Mississippi and West Virginia – to enact a law requiring children in public school to be vaccinated unless they have a valid medical reason. “Even if they were licensed by the FDA, employers and schools must respect a person’s personal and religious decision to not inject a drug into their body,” Staver added. FDA regulations prohibit making the currently available emergency-authorized injections mandatory, and the Missouri Human Rights Act, prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion by places of public accommodation, including private universities.”ĪTSU’s legal counsel later advised Liberty Counsel that the university had changed its decision and had now approved the religious exemption requested by Murza and Swanson, granting them the exemptions. Liberty Counsel’s letter to ATSU, which eventually led to both students being excused from having to get vaccinated, said: “Murza and Swanson supplied all of the evidence requested or necessary, and they are legally entitled to an exemption based upon their sincerely held religious beliefs. ![]() They also explained they were willing to follow all other COVID-19 safety protocols the university requires. Initially, when Murza and Swanson applied for an exemption, the university delayed its response to their request because it claimed there was “unsubstantiated evidence,” even after both students explained their beliefs and what complying with their religion’s procedural requirements entails. In Murza’s and Swanson’s case, they faced rejection on multiple occasions from their university before they resorted to seeking legal help. However, liberation from school vaccination mandates doesn't often come without a fight. Some students cite religious reasons for seeking exemptions - as they have for other vaccines - or have medical concerns, or already have a natural immunity to the virus from a previous infection. Murza and Swanson represent just two of many cases in the country of students who have fought back against their universities' vaccination policies. “The Covid injections are not licensed by the FDA and are still in the investigation and experimental phase.” “Forcing any person to receive one of these Covid injections is a violation of federal law,” Staver added. The two students were granted permission to continue their courses without being required to take COVID-19 vaccinations only after a letter was sent to the university from Liberty Counsel, a Christian law firm that advocates for religious freedom and is representing the students.Īccording to the Liberty Counsel, the letter sent to the university by its founder and Chairman, Mat Staver, said, “failure to grant requested exemptions to both students would violate both federal and state law.” Still University School of Dentistry and Oral Health in Kirksville, Missouri, hold sincere religious beliefs that prohibit them from taking the vaccine. ![]() Sharon Murza and Ashley Swanson, who are both enrolled at A.T. Two Christian dental school students were finally granted religious exemptions from taking the COVID-19 vaccine after Liberty Counsel intervened on their behalf. By Nicole Alcindor, CP Reporter Friday, JREUTERS/Damir Sagolj
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