A University of Minnesota Duluth student has filed a suit challenging the university system’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all students.
The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, seeks an order to halt the university’s requirement that students at its five campuses be vaccinated by Oct. 8. The university, Board of Regents and University President Joan Gabel are named in the suit.
“The University of Minnesota may not unilaterally require new immunizations,” attorney Sam Diehl, who is representing the student, said in an e-mail. “President Gabel’s unlawful attempt to mandate student COVID-19 vaccination violates Minnesota law and must be enjoined.”
“The university is not above the law,” Diehl said. “While there are many opinions about the benefits and risks of COVID vaccines, we can all agree that the university and its president must obey the law. We look forward to our day in court.”
The university allows students to opt out of the COVID-19 vaccine for medical or religious reasons.
Minnesota’s College Immunization Law already requires students to be immunized against most major childhood diseases before attending the university, while also allowing specific exemptions.
In an e-mail from University spokesman Jake Ricker said that U leaders haven’t been served with the suit and therefore have not had a chance to review the details.
“That said, we are confident in the operational decisions we made regarding vaccinations for our community,” Ricker said. “Our actions reflect the high priority we place on creating the safest, healthiest possible campus environment for our students, faculty and staff.”
More than 500 colleges and universities have imposed vaccine requirements and many have been challenged in court, sometimes for denying student requests for a religious exemption.
The law firm representing the student, CrossCastle, says on its website that it specializes in First Amendment and public advocacy litigation, commercial litigation, government enforcement defense and investigations, and employment law.
Also in Minnesota nearly 200 Minnesota health workers have filed a federal lawsuit over the pending requirement that they be vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing their job.
The lawsuit was filed late Monday in U.S. District Court against federal health officials and about 20 Minnesota health care providers that operate hospitals and clinics throughout the state. It contends that the lack of alternatives to vaccination infringes on the rights of those employees, who range from doctors and nurses to respiratory therapists and technicians.
“You’re talking about people who held the hand of people dying of COVID,” said Minneapolis attorney Greg Erickson, who filed the case. “These folks risked their lives to help these patients and now they’re being terminated because their religious beliefs won’t allow them to take the vaccine? It’s really sad.”
Tuesday morning, the defendants were served with court papers. The Minnesota Hospital Association, a trade group that includes many of the defendants, issued a measured statement in response.
“While it is not possible for us to speak to litigation on federal action that does not yet exist, Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems have been working for many months to encourage Minnesotans to get vaccinated as the best path out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the association’s statement said. “We have been working on all fronts to ensure people understand that vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations and death from COVID-19, and we have been strongly encouraging all staff members to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. “
The case is one of several lawsuits filed over vaccine mandates across the country against government entities, employers or both. The filing seeks a quick hearing on a temporary injunction to bar any terminations or steps to put unvaccinated health workers on unpaid leave while the case plays out.
Judges in state and federal courts elsewhere have split on how much latitude employees are entitled to around vaccination.
In 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government could enact vaccine requirements to protect public health. That precedent has been cited by defendants in similar lawsuits filed in recent months.
The approximately 190 plaintiffs in the Minnesota case are all listed under pseudonyms out of what they say is fear of employer retaliation or public harassment.
“Instead of being hailed as heroes now, they are chastised and ridiculed as ‘antivaxxers’ or worse,” the lawsuit reads.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced the mandate that will require all workers in most health settings to be vaccinated, although most of the estimated 17 million covered by the directive have been. The rule will become effective once the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issues final language, which is expected to occur by the middle of October.
Some hospitals and clinics have separate requirements, which have already taken effect.
In their filing, several health workers are listed as having had COVID-19 already, which they say offer them natural immunity. Others say they aren’t comfortable taking the available vaccines or have a religious objection.
They argue they should be allowed to instead take regular COVID-19 tests instead or be transferred into roles that don’t put them in contact with patients or coworkers.
The head of an association for Minnesota physicians wants government and medical entities to stand firm on vaccine requirements for health professionals.
Newly inaugurated Minnesota Medical Association President Randy Rice said he believes a loud minority is opposing vaccination and that most in the medical community have been immunized. Rice, a physician who practices at a family clinic in Moose Lake, said the contagious nature of COVID-19 should alone push health professionals to get vaccinated.
“This is a situation where people not getting immunized is putting everyone around them at higher risk,” Rice said. “And that becomes extremely important when we’re in the health care arena and the caregiving roles because that’s putting people who are already often at higher risk for getting further transmission.”
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