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Perspectives: Should COVID-19 vaccines be required?

FILE - In this April 26, 2021 file photo, a nursing student administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center at UNLV, in Las Vegas. Lagging vaccination rates among nursing home staff are being linked to a national increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths at senior facilities in July and are at the center of a federal investigation in a hard-hit Colorado location where disease detectives found many workers were not inoculated. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) FILE - In this April 26, 2021 file photo, a nursing student administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center at UNLV, in Las Vegas. Lagging vaccination rates among nursing home staff are being linked to a national increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths at senior facilities in July and are at the center of a federal investigation in a hard-hit Colorado location where disease detectives found many workers were not inoculated. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

By Chris Talgo and James Rosen / Tribune Content Agency July 24, 2021 9 min read

Viewpoint 1: Requiring vaccination is premature; one-size-fits-all doesn’t work

By Chris Talgo

Throughout the country, schools (especially colleges and universities) are mandating that students receive COVID-19 vaccinations before they return for in-person learning. This is a terrible idea that will likely do more harm than good.

For example, the University of Southern California “is requiring all students, faculty and staff to submit proof of vaccination for COVID-19 in order to access campus facilities for the fall semester.”

There are many reasons students should not be required to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.