As of today, Virginia Tech and George Mason University have replaced their student vaccine requirements with language encouraging vaccination following Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares ‘ recent statement that public universities in Virginia cannot mandate students to get the shot.
Miyares published his legal opinion Jan. 26, concluding that mandating the vaccine for students is not in keeping with Virginia law absent of approval from lawmakers.
Miyares explained that since the state legislature has yet to pass legislation that authorizes public schools to mandate the vaccine, those institutions have no such authority.
“Although the General Assembly specifically authorized public institutions of higher education to assist the Department of Health and local health departments in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine,” he writes, “the legislation did not grant such institutions power to impose vaccine requirements.”Miyares also clarified that the General Assembly does have the authority to require vaccines if they so choose, and […]
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