The Supreme Court has rejected an challenge to a 2021 Connecticut law that ended the state’s longstanding religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools, colleges and daycares.
WASHINGTON — The High Council on Monday rejected an appeal to a 2021 Connecticut law eliminated the state’s longstanding religious exemption of child immunization requirements for schools, colleges and daycare centers.
The justices made no comment and upheld a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the controversial law. a The lower court had previously rejected the request the lawsuit challenging the law, which provoked protests at the State Capitol.
Connecticut law requires students to receive certain immunizations before enrolling in school, allowing some medical exemptions. Before 2021, students could also apply for religious exemptions. Lawmakers ended the religious exemption over concerns that an increase in exemption applications was accompanied by a decline in vaccination rates at some schools.
The change allowed current primary and secondary students who already had a religious exemption to keep it.
A group that has challenged other vaccination laws, including for COVID-19, has filed a lawsuit. We, the Patriots USA Inc. and several parents, argued that Connecticut violated religious freedom protections by repealing the exemption. The new law shows hostility toward religious believers and endangers their rights to medical freedom and child rearing, they said in court filings.