Smallpox and COVID

The argument has been made that during the smallpox outbreaks of the early 20th century mandatory vaccinations were upheld legally, however is it proper to connect the two events?

What is the death rate of COVID?

And what was the death rate of Smallpox?

If the threat is significantly lower for COVID than smallpox then it could be argued that to force vaccination for COVID using the argument that it was OK to do so during the smallpox outbreaks may not be OK.