As debate swirls, colleges weigh whether to mandate COVID-19 vaccines

As more colleges announce plans to require all students be vaccinated against COVID-19, they've placed themselves at the forefront of a politically charged debate.

As more colleges and universities announce plans to require all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to return to campus, they've placed themselves at the forefront of a politically charged debate over whether institutions should be able to mandate vaccines. Public health experts say that by requiring vaccinations against the virus that has so far resulted in more than 570,000 U.S. deaths, colleges and universities could play a significant role in helping vaccinate tens of millions of college-age Americans -- especially important after some college populations sparked waves of COVID-19 infections in their surrounding communities last year. But mandatory vaccinations could be a political minefield, just as mask-wearing in the U.S. has become a polarizing issue. The majority of America's roughly 4,000 accredited colleges and universities appear hesitant about requiring vaccines. At least 80 colleges and universities have announced plans to require COVID-19 vaccinations according to a count from The Chronicle of Higher Education, but a greater number have said outright that they will not. Republican governors in Utah, Texas, Florida and Montana have already signed orders banning institutions from mandating proof of vaccination.