Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issues guidance on COVID-19 vaccination, state law
Updated Jul 27, 2021; Posted Jul 26, 2021
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By Mike Cason | mcason@al.com
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said today his office has seen a sharp increase in questions and complaints about the law and COVID-19 vaccinations.
In response, Marshall’s office released guidance on how state law governs vaccinations and documentation. Alabama lawmakers passed a bill in May year to ban vaccine passports, and Marshall explained what that means.
Main parts of the law:
It prohibits state and local government entities from requiring the publication or sharing of immunization records not otherwise required by law. This means government entities cannot release lists of people who have received vaccines or those who have not.
It prohibits state and local government entities from requiring vaccines as a condition of receiving government services or for entry into a government building.
It prohibits schools, colleges and universities, both public and private, from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of attendance. The law says schools and colleges cannot require proof of any vaccinations except those that were required as of Jan. 1, 2021, effectively excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. The law does not affect immunization requirements for students in public and private schools already authorized by state law. (Exceptions to that longstanding law are allowed for religious objections if parents put that in writing.)
It prohibits businesses from requiring proof of vaccination status as a condition for entering a place of business or for providing goods and services. A business may ask customers their vaccination status and request that unvaccinated customers wear a mask or social distance. But the business cannot require proof of vaccination or discriminate against customers based on a refusal to confirm vaccination status.
The restrictions on businesses do not address employer-employee relationships. So the law does not prohibit private employers from requiring employees to vaccinate against COVID-19.
Read the guidance document from Marshall’s office.
The attorney general’s office also said it is receiving questions about COVID-19 “vaccination doorknockers,” also known as “community health ambassadors” in some states.
“While this does not appear to be occurring in Alabama, be advised that you are under no obligation to engage with or share any personal information—including your COVID-19 vaccination status—with anyone identifying as a health ambassador or government volunteer,” Marshall’s office said in a press release.
Related: University of Alabama giving vaccinated students $20
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