he last decades of the twentieth century witnessed the emergence and consolidation of a set of core ethical principles felt to be critical to medical research, and the practice of medicine. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings in favor of mandatory vaccination requirements, during much of the 20th Century, states and counties relied more on persuasion, to achieve compliance with vaccination requirements.

The problem: autonomy of the individual. Mandatory vaccination of health care workers raises important questions about the limits of a state's power to compel individuals to engage in particular activities in order to protect the public. Many health care workers believe that the mandate violates fundamental individual rights