Speakers
James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LLM
Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law
Director, Center for Public Health Law and Policy
Director, Western Region – Network for Public Health Law
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Benjamin Feist, JD
Interim Executive Director
Chief Programs Officer
ACLU-Minnesota
Zeke J. McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, FACOEM (he/him)
Program Director, HealthPartners Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency
Affiliate Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Research Investigator, HealthPartners Institute
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Topics
Vaccine Mandates: An Assessment of the Legal Landscape Pre- and Post-COVID-19
Professor Hodge will examine historic and contemporary legal bases underlying vaccine mandates prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the constitutional balances related to federal, state, and local public health powers and respect for individual liberty, equal protection, and First Amendment freedoms. Predictions for law and policy changes concerning vaccination mandates for the 21st century following the pandemic will also be discussed.
Civil Liberties and Vaccine Mandates
As the ACLU-MN Interim Executive Director, Mr. Feist is not shy about defending civil liberties. However, he will discuss why civil liberties objections to COVID-19 vaccine mandates are often unfounded, noting that properly tailored vaccine mandates may actually further civil liberties, not compromise them.
A Physician’s Perspective Guided by Medicine, Public Health and Community Engagement
Dr. McKinney believes strongly in a fundamental tenant of medical ethics-patient autonomy. He will discuss his fight against vaccine misinformation, strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, and grassroots efforts to help patients make informed decisions. Dr. McKinney will also explain why he believes each of us has a civil duty to do what we can to stop this pandemic.
Agenda
9am – Introduction
9:05-9:45am – Public Health Law and Vaccines: A Historical Perspective
Professor James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LLM
9:45-10:25am – Civil Liberties and Vaccine Mandates
Benjamin Feist, JD
10:25-10:35 – BREAK
10:35-11:15am – Vaccine Misinformation and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Physician’s Perspective
Zeke McKinney, MD MHI, MPH
11:15-11:30am – Q & A