The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) initially reacted to the idea of COVID-19 vaccine mandates with skepticism. But in early September, the organization endorsed vaccine requirements, adopting the argument that mandatory inoculations against COVID-19 “further civil liberties” by protecting the most vulnerable.

“At the ACLU, we are not shy about defending civil liberties, even when they are very unpopular. But we see no civil liberties problem with requiring COVID -19 vaccines in most circumstances,” wrote David Cole, the ACLU’s legal director, and Daniel Mach, the director of its program on freedom of religion and belief.

“In fact, far from compromising civil liberties, vaccine mandates actually further civil liberties. They protect the most vulnerable among us, including people with disabilities and fragile immune systems, children too young to be vaccinated and communities of color hit hard by the disease.”

Read the ACLU’s stance on COVID-19 vaccine mandates: https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/civil-liberties-and-vaccine-mandates-heres-our-take/