Students Calling the Shots and their Right to Refuse Vaccines

Now it’s up to the Senate to decide: will adult students finally control their own vaccine choices, or will higher ed institutions keep calling the shots?

After watching countless hours of committee meetings over the past several weeks, one bill keeps standing out—HB 2058, which gives adult students in higher education the right to make their own vaccine choices. While healthcare-affiliated institutions continue to mandate a variety of vaccines, parents have stepped forward with compelling, often emotional stories about their children’s health and personal reasons for refusing additional vaccinations. The debate has exposed deep partisan divides, with Republicans championing personal freedom and Democrats warning of public health risks—echoing the broader vaccine battles that took center stage during the pandemic.

From Personal Experience to Policy: Lawmaker Pushes Legislation for Vaccine Choice

Arizona House Rep. Lisa Fink (R-LD27) introduced HB 2058 in the House Education Committee, explaining that the bill was inspired by personal experience—when her daughter was told she needed a rabies vaccine to attend school.