[threatofrain]

Hasn't it been this way since forever?

Firstly, the US has always granted special exceptions to religion for many public policy requirements. You can complain about how it's unfair, but it's likely that the public needle of opinion won't budge past a threshold within this lifetime.

Secondly, there have already been widespread medical requirements for all sorts of aspects of public life, and this hasn't been controversial. Immigrants are required to be immunized. Churches may require missionaries to be immunized. Schools may require children to be immunized.

[loxias]

> Hasn't it been this way since forever?

At least since Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905).

> granted special exceptions

This podcast: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/12/1027132680/can-the-government... explained the "religious exception" quite well.

My paraphrasing is horrible, but the gist was something like: "religion has a sort of 'most favored' status, so if there's ever a secular exception to a rule, there must also be a religious exception".

Personally, I think that's absurd, but I'm less upset about it after hearing the explanation. I highly recommend listening to the 18 minute episoide.

[olivermarks]

I'm an immigrant into the USA and was never 'required to be immunized'

[threatofrain]

Ok.

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/designated-civil-surgeons/vaccin...

[filoleg]

What's your definition of "immigrant into the USA" here?

You aren't required to get immunized for H1B and a number of other visas, but for green card (aka permanent resident card), you are absolutely required to get a general medical exam + screen for TB + get up to date on all your vaccinations. You need to do it shortly before the green card interview, because you are expected to bring those papers with you for the interview.

[cosmotic]

We should at least try to budge that needle. As long as that argument is used, it won't budge. We gotta budge it despite the argument.

[Daishiman]

Why?