The ethics of COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers: Public health and clinical perspectives

Abstract

COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains of significant public health concern due to the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. As a result, many healthcare institutions are considering or have implemented COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for HCWs. We assess defenses of COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for HCWs from both public health and professional ethics perspectives. We consider public health values, professional obligations of HCWs, and the institutional failures in healthcare throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic which have impacted the lived experiences of HCWs. We argue that, despite the compelling urgency of maximizing COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among HCWs, the ethical case for COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for HCWs in the United States is complex, and, under current circumstances, inconclusive. Nevertheless, we recognize that COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for HCWs have already been and will continue to be implemented across many healthcare institutions. Given such context, we provide suggestions for implementing COVID‐19 vaccine mandates for HCWs.

Healthcare Worker Characteristics Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Ireland; a Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

“…The development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has been one of the tools employed to mitigate HCW infection [11][12][13], with proven efficacy in HCW populations [14]. Vaccine mandates were introduced in some jurisdictions to ensure adequate HCW vaccination; however, this was not the case in the Republic of Ireland [15]. The Irish national vaccination strategy was initiated in December 2020, with primary vaccination taking place over the following months.…”