Repealing Mandatory Vaccination Laws: Restoring Informed Consent and Individual Rights
Adapted from Barbara Loe Fisher’s NVIC commentary

Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a troubling truth: public health policy in America has drifted far from the ethical foundation of informed consent. From lockdowns and censorship to forced medical interventions, millions of Americans experienced firsthand what it means to lose autonomy over their bodies. The time has come to reexamine—and repeal—mandatory vaccination laws that undermine individual rights and medical ethics.
The Illusion of Exemptions
Contrary to popular belief, medical and religious exemptions do not protect informed consent. They function as gatekeeping mechanisms, forcing individuals to plead for permission to opt out of medical procedures that carry real risks. These exemptions validate coercive mandates rather than uphold personal liberty.
In July 2025, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for the elimination of all non-medical exemptions and tighter restrictions on medical ones. This move ignores the genetic and biological diversity that makes some individuals more vulnerable to vaccine injury.
COVID-19: A Case Study in Coercion
During the pandemic, Americans were subjected to unprecedented mandates. Workers were fired for refusing mRNA injections. Patients were denied organ transplants. Mothers gave birth alone. Even respected academics and physicians were punished for questioning the dominant narrative or offering alternative treatments. The Ninth Circuit Court ruled that vaccines need not prevent infection or transmission to be mandated—further eroding the rationale behind compulsory vaccination.
Utilitarianism: The Flawed Ethical Foundation
Mandatory vaccination laws are rooted in utilitarianism, a philosophy that sacrifices individual rights for the “greater good.” This ideology has historically justified forced sterilizations, euthanasia, and other human rights abuses. The 1905 Jacobson v. Massachusetts ruling enshrined this logic into U.S. law, allowing states to override personal liberty in the name of public health. But utilitarianism fails to account for the sanctity of individual life. It treats vaccine-injured individuals as acceptable losses, ignoring the ethical imperative to protect the vulnerable.
The Nuremberg Code and Informed Consent
After World War II, the Nuremberg Code established informed consent as a cornerstone of medical ethics. It affirms that individuals must be free from coercion when making medical decisions. Yet today, this principle is routinely violated under the guise of public safety.
The Path Forward: Reclaiming Medical Freedom
To restore ethical integrity, we must repeal mandatory vaccination laws and codify informed consent into state statutes. Vaccines should be subject to the same legal standards as any other product—governed by supply, demand, and liability for harm.
State legislatures hold the power to enact change. Under the Tenth Amendment, they can reject federal overreach and protect individual rights. Organizations like NVICAdvocacy.org offer tools for citizens to take action.
Conclusion
The right to informed consent is not negotiable. It is a natural, unalienable right that must be defended against utilitarian policies and medical mandates. Repealing compulsory vaccination laws is not just a legal necessity—it is a moral imperative.
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