In December 2020, when the Covid-19 vaccine became available to the public after less than one year of development, it had the distinction of being the most rapidly developed vaccine in history. The same month, Merriam-Webster announced that “vaccine” would be the word of the year for 2021. As the world awaited a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, interest in vaccine-related topics, such as funding, development, distribution, and policy surged.

In this course, students will learn about the fundamental role of vaccines as a tool intended to improve public health and how this influences policy. Topics covered include vaccine regulation and monitoring; equity and access; individual decision-making; vaccine refusal and hesitation; advocacy and awareness- raising; and various state, federal, and organizational vaccine mandates. These mandates touch every sphere of personal and public life, including work, education, leisure activities, politics, and how healthcare practitioners interact with patients. Understanding vaccine policy will facilitate decision-making in these settings. This course is ideal for laypersons and professionals alike. It can be useful for individuals concerned about their families’ health; school administrators; municipal officials; community health advocates; and others. Lawyers, with other areas of expertise, looking to learn more about vaccine policy, as well as medical students and allied healthcare professionals, will also find value in this course.