Vaccinating Urban Populations in Response to COVID-19: Legal Challenges and Options

28 Pages Posted: 3 Aug 2021

See all articles by James G. Hodge

James G. Hodge

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Jennifer L. Piatt

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Leila Barraza

University of Arizona - Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Rebecca Freed

Arizona State University (ASU), Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Summer Ghaith

Arizona State University (ASU), Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: July 28, 2021

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the most significant public health emergency event in U.S. history, the real-time development of multiple efficacious COVID-19 vaccines through pharmaceutical companies and federal support is a shining achievement. Americans’ future health and safety rely on a national vaccine campaign with an arduous goal of rapidly achieving “herd immunity,” especially among denser, urban environments. Immunizing millions of persons in urban locales is especially complex due to population vulnerabilities, lack of access, issues of eligibility, and vaccine hesitancy based on false information and long-standing governmental distrust. Public and private sectors are responding to these and other challenges in multifarious ways. This Commentary explores legal and policy perspectives on national mass vaccination efforts impacting U.S. urban populations.

Note: Funding: No specific funding sources were used or relied on for the production of this research and manuscript.

Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to report in the research and drafting of this manuscript.

Keywords: COVID-19, urban, United States, vaccine, immunization, inoculation, emergency, preparedness, law, policy, challenges, religious, freedom, constitution, cases, mandate, passport, liability, school, college

Suggested Citation

Hodge, James G. and Piatt, Jennifer and Barraza, Leila and Freed, Rebecca and Ghaith, Summer, Vaccinating Urban Populations in Response to COVID-19: Legal Challenges and Options (July 28, 2021). Fordham Urban Law Journal, Vol. 49, No. 1, 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3877612

James G. Hodge (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
111 E. Taylor Street, MC 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
United States
480-727-8576 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://law.asu.edu/degree-programs/public-health-law-policy

Jennifer Piatt

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

111 E. Taylor Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
United States

Leila Barraza

University of Arizona - Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health ( email )

Tucson, AZ

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States

Rebecca Freed

Arizona State University (ASU), Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ
United States

Summer Ghaith

Arizona State University (ASU), Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ
United States

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