**Vermont Supreme Court Ruling Misinterpreted on Social Media**
A recent ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court has been misinterpreted by social media users. The court’s decision did not give schools permission to vaccinate children against their parents’ wishes.
The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against the Windham Southeast School District and state officials. In 2021, the school accidentally vaccinated their 6-year-old son, L.P., with COVID-19 vaccine without his parents’ consent. The lower court had dismissed the case twice, but an appeal was made to the U.S. Supreme Court.
**The Actual Ruling**
The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that anyone protected by the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP) is immune to state lawsuits. This means that officials involved in the case cannot be sued. The court’s decision does not give schools permission to vaccinate children against their parents’ wishes.
**Misinformation Spreads**
Social media users claimed that the Vermont Supreme Court had ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for COVID-19 against the wishes of their parents. Some even alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19.
Experts and lawyers representing the Politellas have clarified that this is not true. The Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion.