And note that some people can't be inoculated for valid medical reasons. But even for such people, you don't need to work closely with them or advise others to do so. They need to isolate for a variety of reasons.

Yes, that's why I phrased it as "objectionable decisions" - not getting vaccinated cuz you don't wanna is objectionable, not being able to obviously is not.

Its not entirely true that nobody is obliged to take on a student. I know of several faculties where students can be allocated to professors, and profesors have no choice in the matter.

@IanSudbery True - and even in systems where that's not the case, professors can be pressured by their colleagues. That's a recipe for disaster, though, since nobody can be forced to be a good advisor.

(...) wants to start a legal route over religious discrimination I am not in the US so it is not clear to me what would be their claim. That people do not like them because they are religious? Or that they are not taken by an advisor despite lack of vaccine because of religious reasons? In practical terms what would be their intended outcome - that an advisor is forced to take them?

@jakebeal its a terrible system. Of course there are minimal standards, and you could be up for a displinary hearing if you don't meet them. I tend to find there is a discplinary divide. In experimental subjects, students are seen as a privilidge and count towards research time. In other subjects, students are seen as a burden, and count towards teaching time. Its in the latter that its more likely that professors have less say in who they supervise.

@WoJ Yes, if they refuse all vaccinations because of their religion and all their peers found a new spot at one university they might have a suit over the fact they weren't selected because of their religion. I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea how successful that'd be.

@AzorAhai-him- I can understand discrimination because someone believes this or that. If a religion states that one can wash once a year and spit on professors - would that be a reason to be forced to take someone? I am exaggerating the case - but not being vaccinated is a tangible risk someone would have to take (the professor I mean, I do not care about the fate of the non-vaccinated)

Why did you vaccinate if you're going to fear interacting with others? Vaccinated people also can carry the virus so it makes no sense to me - to treat unvaccinated person as a pest spreader. And also I can't understand how attributing something to religion is more credible than personal conviction..but that's more about existing laws I guess.

The question has hit the HNQ (see right hand side), and consequently I feel that many votes are from users who are expressing their personal opinion, rather than the more viable solution to what is a serious problem. Not every person who chooses not to vaccinate is a vehement "anti-vaxxer" or belongs to a "religious sect". P.S I am vaccinated.

@WoJ No, of course not. That is why I didn't state that a religious discrimination suit was a sure shot.

@Mari-LouA Not every person who chooses not to vaccinate is a vehement "anti-vaxxer" or belongs to a "religious sect". So?

@akostadinov I didn't claim that professors should fear interacting with this student - although other people did.

@AzorAhai-him- You know nothing about the student, your answer is based on a preconceived opinion of the person. I do not think the OP would be asking what to do in the first place if the student did not merit any respect. Before stating "I wouldn't want to supervise a student that doesn't want to help end the pandemic, either." consider the possibility that the student may find themselves between a rock and a hard place.

@Mari-LouA do you want me to edit out all the anti-vax part in the answer and leave only the academic advice?

@user1271772 I'm not the person you should be asking, and I think Azor would agree that they can decide for themself whether to modify their position or not. But thanks all the same.

@Mari-LouA Okay I'll leave it alone. I interacted with that user once.

@Mari-LouA how is a person who "is unvaccinated (against everything, apparently) due to peronal beliefs" NOT a vehement anti-vaxxer? How can you be more vehemently against vaccination than "not receive a single vaccine against anything, ever, since birth"?