EP 29 - Want a Diploma - First, We’ve Got to Get You Vaccinated

With the relatively widespread availability of the COVID vaccine in the United States, more and more colleges and universities are making plans to open up in the fall. After having shuttered in-person education for the entirety of the 2020-2021 academic year, college administrators are trying to figure out how to safely bring back tens of thousands of students to campuses across the country. Late last week, Duke University announced that it’s planning to require all students to show proof of vaccination. In a letter to that effect, Vincent E Price, the university president, writes: “With this in mind, we plan to require all new and returning Duke students to present proof of vaccination to Student Health before they can enroll for the Fall 2021 semester. This policy will cover all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students—in all degree programs—who intend to be on the Duke campus for any period of time starting with the Fall 2021 semester. Documented medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated.” So, with this in mind, today we’re going to discuss the connection between vaccination and education, as we ask: should schools require students to be vaccinated in order to attend classes in the fall of 2021?