Should Covid Vaccines Be Mandatory?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with these essential questions: When—if ever—does the common good outweigh individual freedoms?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? Why is the issue under debate? (The issue is whether the government should mandate Covid vaccines. It’s under debate because the Covid-19 virus is highly contagious and can be deadly, but the pandemic can be stopped if enough people are vaccinated.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Lipkin is a doctor and the director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University. Cannon is the director of Health Policy Studies at a libertarian think tank.)

• Analyze Lipkin’s view. (Lipkin argues in favor of Covid-19 vaccines being mandatory. He says that it’s the best way to achieve herd immunity and the government has the right to implement policy to protect the greater good. He says that trying to stop the pandemic through natural herd immunity is a terrible idea, which would result in many more deaths.)

• Analyze Cannon’s view. (Cannon argues against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations. He says that a mandate could further erode trust in the government and make skeptics less willing to take the vaccine, which could result in a delay in achieving herd immunity. He says the best way to reach herd immunity is to increase public awareness about the value of the vaccine and then let people decide for themselves.)

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Should the government mandate Covid-19 vaccines? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.