Since the coronavirus vaccine got approved for emergency use in December 2020, immunization mandates have been harshly deployed by academic and corporate institutions such as San Jose State.
The California State University’s (CSU) COVID-19 vaccination policy requires complete immunization for students, faculty and staff bySept. 30.
Students who refuse vaccination will be barred from campus facilities and programs including in-person classes and off-campus internships and activities, according to SJSU’s Health Advisories webpage.
If students continue to refuse vaccination, they can be subjected to administrative holds on their academic records and other “conduct-related consequences,” according to the same webpage.
The choice to receive the vaccine shouldn’t be decided by any corporate or academic institution. SJSU community members aren’t exempt from the constant flow of misinformation, fear and inconsistency from authorities that have impacted their trust in the vaccine.
A study published in June by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) evaluated factors that lead to vaccine hesitancy in adults in the United Kingdom and found that trust and misinformation were the most significant.
According to the study, many individuals cited inconsistent information and incompetent action from the government, which lead to mistrust. Others refused vaccination on account of conspiracy theories and concern for personal safety.
Political leaders have continuously changed their narrative about COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including former President Donald Trump, who was supposed to be a trustworthy authority figure. They lied about the dangers of the virus and allowed conspiracy theories to flourish.
Trump told the public multiple times COVID-19 would “go away without a vaccine” and lied about the severity of the pandemic, according to a Nov. 2, 2020 article by the Atlantic.
The CSU needs to take the public’s concerns into consideration and use their influence to educate people rather than scare them more with mandates.
The SJSU community has good reason to be wary of the vaccine and the administration trying to coerce them into getting vaccinated with such draconian measures is counterintuitive.
According to a June 2016 study conducted by the Department of Psychology and Center for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavioral Sciences, mandating vaccines decreased the chances of an individual getting vaccinated, especially if they were already skeptical.
The CSU’s mandatory vaccination policy will likely discourage anyone who was contemplating getting the shot and reinforce doubtful beliefs of those who didn’t want to take it in the first place.
One reason the CSU system is able to require vaccination without raising legal questions, unlike K-12 schools, is because attending a university isn’t considered to be mandatory, according to a May 12 EducationWeek article.
While it’s true there’s no law requiring university students to remain in school, dropping out or transferring isn’t an option for most.
Students have poured years of their early adulthood and tens of thousands of dollars into SJSU to receive their college degree, only to have it ripped away because of a personal choice regarding their body and health.
I’ve been vaccinated and I’m happy I did it, but it was my decision. I wouldn’t blame others for reacting adversely when the institution they’ve given so much to gives them an ultimatum and threatens their future, especially after more than a year of inconsistency and ill-prepared online existence.
If the CSU wants its community to get vaccinated, it should incentivize people instead of punishing them.
Many companies, such as Target and Trader Joe’s, have started offering cash payments and free Lyft rides to employees who choose to get vaccinated, according to a Feb. 10 CNBC article.
Alternatively, the CSU could introduce programs to educate its community so they feel more secure in getting the vaccine. Students are already required to take online courses about Title IX, violence and drug and alcohol consumption, why not add COVID-19 education to the list?
Students who are still adamant about not receiving the vaccine should be able to opt for regular testing and mask-wearing throughout the entire semester instead.
The SJSU community should get vaccinated, but it should be their choice. The CSU needs to consider the fear, confusion and ever-changing information from the CDC people face when deciding on getting the vaccine and work to make the process less painful for everyone. Empathy and communication work better than ruling with an iron fist.
