foolproof religious exemption for vaccines letter

For example, proof of vaccination could be required to engage in certain jobs, such as prison staff or line workers in meat processing plants.

‘If/then’ mandatesĪnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said he would be “ pretty surprised” if vaccination became mandatory for any part of the population.īut other experts have raised the possibility of a vaccine being mandatory as part of a “if/then” proposition – in other words, someone can only do something if they are first vaccinated. A mandate may not be necessary, although those refusing vaccination tend to cluster, leaving potential pockets of continued vulnerability. While troubling, it’s unclear how many in this camp will keep that opinion if COVID-related illnesses, injuries and disruptions to our lives continue, and a vaccine becomes readily available.Īnd we do not know enough about COVID-19 immunity yet to know what share of the population would need to be vaccinated for a community to achieve herd immunity and stop the virus’s spread. These may explain why 35% of Americans say they will not get the vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn has been adamant that the agency “will not cut corners” in their vaccine review process, and that the decision “ will be based on science and data.” Any suggestion otherwise would damage public trust.īut public hesitancy to vaccines was already one of the biggest global public health concerns even before the COVID-19 pandemic.Īdded to this are the vaccine misinformation and conspiracies that have flourished during the epidemic.

Whether or not a vaccine mandate is appropriate will depend upon how safe the vaccine is determined to be, what it protects against and how well it offers protection. My answer is a common lawyer’s response: “It depends,” as this question raises numerous questions of its own. As a public health lawyer and ethicist who has researched issues related to vaccination policy, I’m often asked about the role a vaccine mandate could play in our COVID-19 response.

Foolproof religious exemption for vaccines letter