We appreciate that Miami University has followed other Ohio colleges and universities by mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all students and employees.
A successful academic year will be impossible if we cannot protect the health of our students, staff, faculty, and community. The most effective way to protect against severe illness is by vaccinating all members of our community who are eligible and able to receive the vaccine.
So we are deeply concerned about language in Miami’s requirement that allows any individual with “reasons of conscience” to opt out of vaccination.
This exemption does not align with Miami’s immunization policy, which currently requires six vaccinations for all students. The Pfizer vaccine’s full FDA approval means that the COVID-19 vaccine is in the same class as these other vaccines. The only exemptions permissible should be the usual documented medical and religious exemptions.
We concur with the conclusions of the editorial board of the Miami Student, who fear the exemption turns the requirement into “just a strong suggestion.”
A mandate that says “this is required unless you don’t want to do it in which case it is not required” is no mandate at all.
Miami AAUP Steering Committee
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