NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Rutgers University remains one of the few colleges in the United States, and the last in New Jersey, to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its students.
This policy contradicts a nationwide trend where only a small percentage of colleges continue to mandate vaccinations. Institutions like Rutgers, which demand at least a primary series of vaccinations for students, are taking varied approaches to COVID-19 management as they prioritize public health and student safety amidst changing pandemic circumstances.
A federal appeals court upheld Rutgers University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement, dismissing a challenge by 13 students and an anti-vaccine group.
The court’s decision echoed a previous ruling, highlighting that the plaintiffs did not meet legal standards for injunctive relief. Rutgers allows exemptions for virtual students, those with medical or religious reasons. The appeals court refuted claims of coercion and rights deprivation, noting the university’s policy did not violate legal or constitutional protections.