By Galia Shkedi '23
To say that the COVID-19 pandemic feels like it’s lasted forever would be an understatement. It’s been almost ten months since schools have closed and our lives turned upside down. Many of us thought that the pandemic would be over by 2021, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. As COVID-19 vaccines are finally being rolled out, a lot of people are either eager or concerned about what will happen next.
Once the vaccine is given to the majority of the general public, it will start to provide herd immunity, pushing us forward through this ordeal. Herd immunity is when enough people become immune to a disease, typically through vaccination, making the spread of disease unlikely. This results in the entire community's protection, even those who are not immune themselves. As a student, I’m one of many who are looking forward to getting a vaccine, both for the immunity it provides and for the semblance of normalcy that may result from herd immunity. Being immunized is the next step to potentially being able to reopen the city, return to schools, see friends, and more. We will still be far from what we used to call our daily lives, but it will bring us closer to achieving our old ‘normal’.
Despite this, there are also many people concerned about the vaccine. About 40% of Americans told poll-takers that they are not planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, some people are worried about potential long term side effects, or any negative reactions that may arise from a rushed vaccine. Regardless of the 95% efficacy rate of the vaccines, many people are currently planning to skip immunization. This raises the question, for people on either side of the argument, will the vaccine be mandatory?
If a lot of people opt out of getting immunized, it could slow down the process of achieving herd immunity, causing some officials to support compulsory vaccination. Mandating a vaccine is not a simple process. For starters, it would be very difficult to keep track of which adults actually received the vaccine and which did not. Although the federal government does not have the power to make a vaccine mandatory, state governments and employers do, within reason. The federal government can still find ways to enforce vaccination, such as making it a condition in order to receive a passport. State governments don’t need to find such measures as they have the authority to regulate public health, as seen in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, a case decided by the Supreme Court following a smallpox outbreak in 1905. In 2019, New York City proved this, requiring four zip codes in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to get the measles vaccine, show proof of past vaccination, or pay a $1,000 fine. If state authorities choose to make the vaccine compulsory, it wouldn’t mean forcing vaccination. But people who refuse the mandate may have to face a fine, tax, or penalty. For employers, requiring immunization is a little trickier. Certain groups, such as healthcare workers, can be required by their hospital or workplace to be immunized, and have in the past. Universities and schools may also require proof of vaccination to allow students back on campus. However, for other employers, there are more limits. If a medical reason, such as an allergy to a component of the vaccine, or being immunocompromised, is preventing an individual from being vaccinated, (although that risk is between the individual and their doctor), they are protected under anti-discrimination laws. Employees under a union may also be exempt. For others, it is considered legitimate for an employer to regulate the vaccination and safety of their employees in the workplace, and fire a worker who chooses not to follow the health and safety rules.
There are many potential scenarios to come following the vaccine rollout. There is no way to exactly predict what will happen next, but hopefully, the coronavirus vaccine will help us move forward in the war the world is waging against COVID-19.
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