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Hagan K, Forman R, Mossialos E, et al. COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the United States: a social justice policy. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2021;21(1):37-45doi: 10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811.
Hagan, K., Forman, R., Mossialos, E., Ndebele, P., Hyder, A. A., & Nasir, K. (2022). COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the United States: a social justice policy. Expert review of vaccines, 21(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811
Hagan, K, et al. "COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the United States: a social justice policy." Expert review of vaccines vol. 21,1 (2022): 37-45. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811
Hagan K, Forman R, Mossialos E, Ndebele P, Hyder AA, Nasir K. COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the United States: a social justice policy. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2022 Jan;21(1):37-45. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811. Epub 2021 Nov 16. PMID: 34709969.
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Expert Rev Vaccines. 2022 Jan;21(1):37-45. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811. Epub 2021 Nov 16.

COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the United States: a social justice policy.

Expert review of vaccines

K Hagan, R Forman, Elias Mossialos, Paul Ndebele, Adnan A Hyder, Khurram Nasir

Affiliations

  1. Division of Health Equity & Disparities Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston, TX, USA.
  2. Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, UK.
  3. Center for Health Policy, Imperial College London, UK.
  4. Department of Global Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
  5. Center on Commercial Determinants of Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
  6. Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA.
  7. Center for Cardiovascular Computational & Precision Health (C3-PH), Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA.

PMID: 34709969 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.1999811

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Vaccination is the most effective strategy to mitigating COVID-19 and restoring societal function. As the pandemic evolves with no certainty of a herd immunity threshold, universal vaccination of at-risk populations is desirable. However, vaccine hesitancy threatens the return to normalcy, and healthcare workers (HCWs) must embrace their ambassadorial role of shoring up vaccine confidence. Unfortunately, voluntary vaccination has been suboptimal among HCWs in the United States, a priority group for whom immunization is essential for maintaining health system capacity and the safety of high-risk patients in their care. Consequently, some health systems have implemented mandates to improve compliance.

AREAS COVERED: This article discusses the ethical and practical considerations of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for HCWs utilizing some components of the World Health Organization's framework and the unique context of a pandemic with evolving infection dynamics.

EXPERT OPINION: COVID-19 vaccine mandates for universal immunization of HCWs raise ethical and practical debates about their appropriateness, especially when the vaccines are pending full approval in most jurisdictions. Given the superiority of the vaccines to safety and testing protocols and their favorable safety profile, we encourage health systems to adopt vaccination mandates through participatory processes that address the concerns of stakeholders.

Keywords: COVID-19; health personnel; mandatory program; public health; vaccination

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