Commentary COVID-19 presents a high risk of severe illness and death to a few and a negligible risk to the majority of the population. The median age of death with COVID-19 is similar to that of natural mortality in most countries. Ninety-five percent of hospitalizations occur in individuals with one or more existing health problems. And 99.95 percent (pdf) of individuals below 70 survive. Survival is even higher for healthy individuals. Children and young people have almost zero risk of death from COVID-19. The epidemiological reality of COVID-19 lends itself to a focused vaccine approach: offering a safe and efficacious vaccine to high-risk individuals (mostly people above 50, with other health problems) when the benefit of the intervention clearly outweighs the risk. This strategy achieves the best outcome for all. Mandatory vaccination has no place in a free society. Public health policy should never be coercive and should always be participatory. …