Not one of the Covid-19 vaccines in america include the cells of aborted fetuses. Cells obtained from elective abortions a long time in the past had been utilized in analysis through the improvement of the Covid vaccine, a apply that’s widespread in vaccine analysis.
A gaggle of medical doctors, nurses and different well being care staff introduced the case, suing within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Northern District of New York in an objection to the state’s vaccine mandate on non secular grounds. The district courtroom issued a preliminary injunction, however the 2nd U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals reversed it and the Supreme Courtroom in the end declined to listen to the problem on Thursday.
The courtroom as a substitute left in place the decrease courtroom ruling rejecting petitioners’ declare that New York’s mandate violates the First Modification proper towards non secular discrimination. All 16 well being care staff had been both fired, resigned, misplaced hospital admitting privileges or determined to obtain the vaccine.
Democrats known as consideration to Thomas’ feedback after a brand new conservative Supreme Courtroom supermajority delivered a number of groundbreaking choices this time period, together with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However some Thomas defenders argued that he was merely reciting the allegations made by these refusing to get the vaccine on non secular grounds.
Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch joined Thomas in his dissenting opinion.
Thomas argues within the opinion that the courtroom ought to have granted a petition to open for full deliberation the query of whether or not a mandate like New York’s can ever be impartial or usually relevant if it doesn’t exempt non secular conduct however does allow secular conduct — equivalent to medical exemptions.
The state permits a slender medical exemption for many who are extremely allergic to the Covid-19 vaccine.
“As a result of I might deal with this difficulty now within the extraordinary course, earlier than the following disaster forces us once more to determine advanced authorized points in an emergency posture, I respectfully dissent,” Thomas writes.