RPJ Partner Mark Moore Discusses Illinois Vaccine Mandates at All Colleges and Universities

Last Friday, RPJ Partner Mark Moore was quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education in an article reported by Francie Diep entitled, “Illinois Mandates Vaccinations at All Institutions of Higher Education.”

Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order last Thursday requiring all students and employees at both public and private institutions to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The move marks a slight departure from other states’ vaccine mandates for schools, which are more often imposed by state college systems rather than the state. Other vaccine mandates have also applied only to elementary- and secondary-school employees and public workers while excluding colleges and private institutions.

On the authority of Illinois’s mandates, Mark explains that Governor Pritzker appears to be “on solid ground in issuing this.” He cites recent court decisions in favor of Indiana University’s vaccine mandate, as well as a 1905 Supreme Court ruling regarding smallpox, suggesting that states have substantial leeway  to require vaccinations.

To learn more, read the full article on The Chronicle of Higher Education here.