Where did States gain the power to enforce public health related laws? Citizens formed government and delegated to it some of our individual rights partly as a convenience to provide for things like self defense. In Railroad Co. v. Husen, 95 U.S. 465 (1877) SCOTUS extends the INDIVIDUAL right of self defense to a general state police power where “persons and property are subjected to all kinds of restraints and burdens, in order to secure the general comfort, health, and prosperity of the State; of the perfect right of the legislature to do which no question ever was, or upon acknowledged general principles ever can be made, so far as natural persons are concerned.” Translation: the State can do what no individual can. The State can forcibly vaccinate you.