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Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

College

College of Business

Keywords

Vaccination mandates, United States, Public health, Individual freedoms, Immunization policies, Legal and ethical scrutiny, Constitutional rights, COVID-19 pandemic, Public health authority, Constitutional validity, Misinformation, Health inequities, Public resistance, Legal precedents, Modern vaccine mandates

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Vaccination mandates in the United States sit at the crossroads of public health and individual freedoms, a complex and often controversial intersection. The enforcement of immunization policies has a long history of legal and ethical scrutiny, balancing the state's responsibility to protect its citizens with the constitutional rights individuals hold dear. The COVID-19 pandemic reignited this debate, amplifying existing tensions and presenting new challenges. This analysis argues that while vaccination mandates are constitutionally valid and essential for safeguarding public health, they must be designed with care to respect individual liberties and address modern challenges such as misinformation, inequities, and public resistance. This paper analyzes the constitutional justification of historical and modern vaccine mandates, evaluating legal precedents and the ongoing tension between public health authority and individual liberties.

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