To require, or not to require

One bill in the Montana Legislature would change school requirements to allow homeopathic treatments instead of vaccinations. Another would bar public institutions and private businesses from discriminating based on vaccination status.

Over the past month, the COVID-19 vaccine has become much more than just a new medical intervention. Photos of freshly vaccinated acquaintances pop up routinely on social media feeds. Health officials are inundated with inquiries about eligibility and availability. Some people are even skirting distribution rules or turning to out-and-out deception to juice their chances at immunity.

It isn’t hard to guess why. Coronavirus flipped life upside-down, devastated the economy and has claimed more than 500,000 lives in the U.S. alone. A shot in the arm is the most promising path back to normal — one that, according to data released by the Pew Research Center in December, 60% of Americans intend to take.