COVID School Vaccinations

Going back to school in the post-COVID era has been challenging for families, school administrators, teachers and especially students. With students learning from home over the past year and a half in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, transitioning back into the classroom has raised a number of issues. The biggest issue for most parents currently is the push for vaccinations for school children both by school administrators themselves and also the public in general. There has been a push for vaccinations of schoolchildren across the state, with the goal of ensuring a safe learning environment for both students and school staff.

As this issue has unfortunately been quite controversial over the past several months, many parents have raised concerns about the legality of schools forcing parents to vaccinate their children as well as how to best handle these situations. It is an issue that has a nearly even split of those who support vaccinations for children and those who do not, which makes the whole matter quite challenging to sort out. This is especially true from a legal standpoint, with parents unsure whether or not they can be required by schools to vaccinate their children.

When the child in question has parents that are separated or divorced, it complicates the matter even further by bringing into question custody rights and which party ultimately has the power to make the decision regarding the vaccination of their children. In these situations, working with a family law attorney is normally required in order to sort out the issue, hopefully resulting in an amicable resolution outside of court.

Considerations Surrounding Vaccination

There are multiple considerations to keep in mind when approaching the topic of forced COVID vaccinations. The largest consideration for most parents is custody issues if the parents are separated or divorced. If the child is under the sole custody of one parent, then it is a simple matter of that parent having sole decision making for the child regarding whether or not to vaccinate. Things get more complicated however when the child is under joint custody, with both parents having an equal say in the matter.

Because Michigan law encourages joint custody in divorce cases, it is highly likely that separated parents will be faced with this decision. When they disagree on vaccination for their child there are a couple ways in which this can be handled. Working with a family law attorney to mediate the issue is the most time and cost effective way to handle the situation, and avoids having to formally involve the court system.

However when this is not possible, the family courts will be tasked with sorting out the matter. This is generally a complex process and involves a considerable amount of time and legal costs to have resolved. For parents who find themselves in this situation, choosing the right legal team is critical to ensure their interests are best represented. This will ensure that the parents’ concerns and wishes for the child are best represented and an amicable solution can be had.

Why hire a School Lawyer

Matters surrounding COVID vaccinations for children are both complex and emotionally charged, making a clear solution challenging for all parties involved. Whether it be disputes between parents and school administrators or between parents themselves, handling disagreements as to the best course of action is difficult without proper legal counsel. For those who find themselves in this situation, hiring an attorney specializing in school and family law is the ideal route for ensuring the best possible resolution.

The expert school and family law attorneys at George Law have decades of combined experience handling school offenses and legal issues, as well as family law matters involving joint custody disputes. Our attorneys will work with you to devise the best possible strategy to ensure a successful outcome for your situation. If you are in need of legal assistance regarding COVID vaccinations for your children in K-12 schools, please contact our office today to see how we can help.