Should the United States federally enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate? Should employees have a choice between vaccination and regular testing? Is a vaccine mandate constitutional or moral?

Explore all perspectives, stances, and arguments for and against COVID-19 vaccine mandates with AllStances™ by AllSides.

Vaccine Mandates Should Be Enforced by the State in All Public Indoor Spaces and Upon Private Businesses Enforcing vaccine mandates on a federal and/or state level is the most efficient way to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us.
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Vaccines Should Only Be Mandated in High-Risk Places Vaccine mandates should be instituted in specific high-risk places and situations, such as hospitals, schools and state buildings.
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People Should Have A Choice Between Vaccines Or Regular Testing
People should have the right to choose between getting the vaccine or adhering to regular testing and having to wear a mask.
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Vaccine Mandates Should Be Left Up to Private Entities to Implement and Enforce
Businesses should have the freedom to impose or not impose a vaccine mandate on their workers and patrons.
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People Should be Free from All Vaccine and Testing Mandates
Vaccine mandates infringe upon bodily freedom and constitute government overreach.
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Americans have been divided over the notion of requiring vaccination to enter public institutions or private venues and workplaces. Some believe it’s the key to putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us. Others think it’s an unnecessary overreach.

The Biden administration has been pushing to enforce vaccine mandates for businesses with 100 or more employees, certain health care workers and federal contractors. However, the mandate has been delayed by a series of legal challenges and polarized reactions. As of December 7, 59.6% of Americans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Explore all the arguments, stances and perspectives around COVID-19 vaccine mandates. (Keep in mind that stances aren't mutually exclusive — some viewpoints might align with multiple stances.)

Are we missing a stance or perspective? Email us!


 

Stance 1: Vaccine Mandates Should Be Enforced by the State in All Public Indoor Spaces and Upon Private Businesses

CORE ARGUMENT: Enforcing vaccine mandates on a federal and/or state level is the most efficient way to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us.

More arguments for this stance:

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Stance 2: Vaccines Should Only Be Mandated in High-Risk Places

CORE ARGUMENT: Vaccine mandates should be instituted in specific high-risk places and situations, such as hospitals, schools and state buildings.

More arguments for this stance:

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Stance 3: People Should Have A Choice Between Vaccines Or Regular Testing

CORE ARGUMENT: People should have the right to choose between getting the vaccine or adhering to regular testing and having to wear a mask.

More arguments for this stance:

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Stance 4: Vaccine Mandates Should Be Left Up to Private Entities to Implement and Enforce

CORE ARGUMENT: Businesses should have the freedom to impose or not impose a vaccine mandate on their workers and patrons.

More arguments for this stance:

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Stance 5: People Should be Free from All Vaccine and Testing Mandates

CORE ARGUMENT: Vaccine mandates infringe upon bodily freedom and constitute government overreach.

More arguments for this stance:

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The Author:

Antonio Ferme, AllSides Weekend Editor, Center bias

Reviewers and Contributors:

Henry Brechter, AllSides Managing Editor, Center bias

John Gable, AllSides CEO and Co-Founder, Lean Right bias

Julie Mastrine, AllSides Director of Marketing, Lean Right bias

Joseph Ratliff, AllSides Daily News Editor, Lean Left bias

Andrew Weinzierl, AllSides Research Assistant, Lean Left bias