Pushing the Needle: Vaccination Mandates in the Age of COVID

Recent surveys of employers indicate growing support for mandatory COVID vaccination as a condition of employment. However, employer consensus is not universal, and there remains considerable reluctance despite the Biden administration’s recently announced vaccination policies. This manuscript examines arguments against employer mandates followed by suggested strategies for employers who insist on adopting vaccination policies. The manuscript argues in favor of state vaccination mandates with a focus on the government’s unique advantages unavailable to private employers.

The manuscript concludes that, despite misgivings regarding private vaccination mandates, it is time to heed the advice of the medical and public health communities and require vaccination regardless of the source.