Through an astonishingly successful collaboration between private industry and government, for nearly a year we have had several safe and effective vaccines that provide significant protection against severe illness or death from covid-19 for those who receive the jab. Yet because of vaccine hesitancy, the virus continues to spread, hospitalizing and killing thousands and preventing a return to normalcy in communities throughout the country. At this stage, the single most compelling public health policy question is how to make everyday human interactions safe while millions continue to reject or avoid inoculation. One obvious answer, of course, is vaccine mandates.

 

This panel will address whether governments may mandate vaccines and whether private businesses and other entities may legally and ethically require proof of vaccination for those with whom they interact. The panel’s focus will be on recent rules and legislation that promulgate or prohibit vaccine mandates and court cases interpreting the civil liberty and legal implications of such measures. We will also discuss various strategies government and employers can use – short of mandates – to “nudge” their citizens and employees to get vaccinated. ​