The United States Supreme Court on Monday rejected two appeals related to COVID-19 vaccines – including a case brought against Rutgers University.
The cases were brought on by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit founded by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Children's Health Defense challenged a Rutgers University requirement, imposed in 2021, for most students to be vaccinated to attend courses on campus, though the school did not force faculty or staff to be vaccinated. The group also joined parents in Texas in objecting to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorization to administer coronavirus vaccines to children.
The justices did not comment in letting stand rulings against the group from the federal appeals courts in New Orleans and Philadelphia.
Children's Health Defense has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.