New proposed vaccination bill protects unvaccinated

On Dec. 28, 2022, Utah Rep. Walt Brooks filed a new bill, H.B. 131, to make it illegal for any business, government or employer to discriminate against an individual based on their vaccination status. 

If an individual is unvaccinated, the bill would prevent government entities and employers from denying “any local or state service, good, facility, advantage, privilege, license, educational opportunity, healthcare access, or employment opportunity” to that person.   

Utah State University’s stance on vaccinations has not changed, according to Amanda DeRito, USU’s associate vice president for strategic communications.  

“As a state university, USU follows the guidance of state and local health officials, which means we will continue to encourage all recommended vaccinations,” DeRito said in an email to the Statesman.  

DeRito also encouraged students to learn more on USU’s Covid-19 vaccination website.  

“COVID-19 vaccines are an important part of controlling the spread of the virus. USU encourages anyone who is able to be vaccinated to do so,” the website said.  

Vaccination “very much is an issue of public health,” according to Eli Moss, a USU student and biology major.  

Moss questioned the bill’s possible ties to making unvaccinated individuals a protected class.  

“From my limited understanding, the basis of the bill is an argument that unvaccinated people should be a protected identity under the Civil Rights Act. My immediate follow-up question would be, ‘Is identity based on action alone?’” Moss said.

Moss said he wasn’t sure if the choice to remain unvaccinated “would be considered equal to the other identities protected by the Civil Rights Act.”  

“I think encouraging people to get vaccinations is always really good. I especially love to see people getting information about vaccines in general,” Moss said.  

-Jenny.Carpenter@usu.edu

2021 Statesman file photo by Joseph F Myers