THE COUNTER OPINION: Vaccine Mandate Reflection

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Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

On Aug. 31, Ohio University announced that all Ohio U students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 15. 

The accepted COVID-19 vaccines include Pfizer (two doses), Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (one dose) and Moderna (two doses), as well as vaccines currently approved under a WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL). 

COVID-19 vaccines are free to the public through appointment or walk-in visits at several locations in Athens, including Heritage Community Clinic, OHIO Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Shively Hall on campus. A walk-in vaccination clinic will also be available at the Ohio U football game on Oct. 9 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

We asked our opinion writers about their thoughts on the vaccine mandate and current COVID-19 protocol in place at Ohio U. Contributing are Zach Donaldson, a freshman opinion writer studying political science, and Aya Cathey, a sophomore studying journalism and the opinion editor for The New Political. 

Do you support the vaccine mandate?


Aya: 

I support Ohio U’s vaccination mandate against COVID-19. I would have liked to see the deadline for receiving the second dose be sooner, possibly sometime mid-October, since flu season is approaching and COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing. The Center for Disease Control currently recommends everyone 12 years and older get the vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. Getting students vaccinated as soon as possible would save lives and return some sense of normalcy to campus. 

Zach:

I emphatically support the university’s decision to mandate vaccinations for faculty and students. One of the most bipartisan sentiments in our current climate is hope for normalcy, and that will only come about with firm and vigilant measures to stop the spread of the virus. Since the university move-in date on Aug. 19, active cases county-wide have spiked from 184 to 1003 as of Sept. 2. With the increased potency of the delta variant, it is doubtful that trajectory will change unless vaccination rates increase. This is not a decision without precedent, either. For decades, all 50 states have had vaccine requirements for public schools for other illnesses (polio, measles, mumps, etc.). Why should COVID-19 be any different?


If you allow for conscious objections, is it a mandate? Is “Reason of Conscience” a valid exemption to the vaccine mandate?

Aya: 

According to OxfordLanguages, a “mandate” is defined as an official order or commission to do something. Taking that into consideration, Ohio U’s executive order does not technically align with this definition. However, while I would prefer there not be an exemption based on the reason of conscience, I understand why the university would allow for this cautious “loophole” in order to avoid impeding on student’s rights and possible legal conflicts.


Additionally, with the exception of those who are immunocompromised or have a religious exemption, I believe it is selfish to be on a college campus and not have received the vaccine. Thanks to medical professionals and staff members at the several clinics located in Athens, getting vaccinated is a free, quick and easy process. For those who are still skeptical of the side effects, the Pfizer vaccine now has approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, and there are countless credible medical studies published online.

Zach:

Definitionally, Ohio U’s vaccine mandate is not technically a mandate as it allows for several exemptions from receiving a shot. However, I believe most of these, namely health-based concerns and severely held religious beliefs, are necessary to protect the health and constitutional freedom of sects of students.

My issue with the exemptions section lies with the context given by the university; I do not believe “Reason of Conscience” is a valid excuse to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine. Beyond vaccine opposition in recognized religious orders, I fail to find a concrete personal argument why one should not have to be vaccinated to participate in the same on-campus activities that all other students had to be vaccinated for. These requests should be heard on a case-by-case basis, but I do not believe unsupported or conspiratorial claims should be accepted or normalized.


Should the mask mandate continue concurrently with a vaccine mandate?

Aya:

The mask mandate should continue concurrently with the vaccine mandate. Masks have been proven to protect people from infection and decrease the spread of respiratory droplets through the air. As the highly transmissible delta variant continues to spread rapidly through Athens, The Ohio Department of Health and The CDC recommend all citizens, including fully vaccinated ones, continue wearing masks indoors. I believe Ohio U should continue enforcing the mask mandate in indoor spaces for the remainder of the semester and evaluate over winter break if the cases have decreased enough to lift the mandate.

Zach:

The current CDC recommendation regarding masks for vaccinated people is to wear them indoors in areas of substantial transmission. If we assume Ohio U is no longer an area of substantial transmission with a fully vaccinated population, there is no reason for a mask mandate to continue.

Furthermore, the potential lift of a mask mandate is all the more incentive for the vaccine mandate. The common argument against imposing a vaccine requirement is that it represents an overbearing restriction on personal choice. This falls on deaf ears for me because attending Ohio U is a choice. An in-person college education is a privilege, and the majority of residents on campus should not be expected to bend over backward and accommodate the few who refuse to follow the sound, accessible and basic safety measures. 

Even then, a choice still exists for objectors: get vaccinated, fill out an exemption or elect to take classes online for the next semester. 


Should Ohio U students and Athens citizens be required to show proof of vaccinations at businesses and on campus?

Aya:

Yes! Absolutely. While proof of vaccination may not be necessary at places with a lot of foot traffic, such as dining halls, markets and grocery stores, members of the Athens community should have to show their vaccine card to enter large indoor social areas such as bars, clubs and concert venues. 


I frequent a music venue called The Union here in Athens, which requires proof of vaccination or a recent and negative COVID-19 test to enter. Not only do I love the environment, but it makes me feel safer knowing a majority of the people around me are vaccinated. In most other spaces on campus, I feel anxious being in crowded spaces, with students coughing and sneezing without a mask. Many of my peers and I have had to get several COVID-19 tests since being back on campus, and it is an awful feeling waiting for the test results. Once most students and faculty are vaccinated, I will be able to relax more knowing everyone is better protected against the virus. 

Zach:

Ohio U students should be required to show proof of vaccination at off-campus businesses but not campus itself. With the mandate in place and a vaccine card needed to utilize campus resources, there is no logistic purpose for students to show their physical card to university faculty.


However, local businesses are well within their jurisdiction to request such documentation, encouraging them to do so. Much like the age-old mantra of ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service,’ businesses should be allowed to deny service to those who refuse to comply with their policies. In a small town like Athens, where local shops are the lifeblood of the community, business owners have a vested interest in keeping their stores safe and open. This pandemic has been especially brutal to mom-and-pop shops around the country; Athens business owners are no different and should be treated with similar high regard and respect.

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