Residents of the Southwest Idaho Health District will no longer be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at the district health department.
The district Board of Health voted 4-3 Tuesday to remove coronavirus vaccines from the facility after receiving about 300 public comments urging it to do so. The board’s vote followed anti-vaccine presentations by several doctors who have been widely accused of spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation, including Dr. Ryan Cole, an Idaho pathologist.
Other presenters included Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas-based cardiologist whose medical license was threatened by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 2022, and Dr. Peter McCullough, a pediatrician who sued Washington State University over free speech. Dr. Renata Moon and others participated in the video conference. The school renews its contract after appearing on a 2022 U.S. Senate committee questioning vaccines and Dr. James Thorpe, an obstetrician-gynecologist who appeared in the conspiracy-filled and widely exposed documentary “Sudden Death.” I didn’t.
They were invited to participate by Dr. John Tribble, the South West District Health Board’s sole physician. The board initially heard a presentation from District Employee Physician Dr. Perry Jansen, who recommended keeping the vaccine available through district health departments.
“We really function as a safety net provider for people who can’t otherwise get health care, primarily for financial reasons,” Jansen told the board. “We can provide free or discounted services to people who do not have access to private healthcare.”
COVID-19 vaccines are no longer free, but public health departments can purchase them at a discount. Health insurance often covers the cost of vaccinations, but those who pay out of pocket will pay less at their local health district clinic.
While many of the public comments received by the board expressed anger over local tax dollars supporting COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Jansen asked the board to ensure that people who want to get vaccinated are not covered by insurance. He reminded the board that the costs were paid in cash and the health district was not providing any subsidies. It will cost you in some way.
Board Chair Kelly Aberasturi said many people who come to the district to get the coronavirus vaccine are referred by a doctor, and questioned the board’s authority to eliminate vaccines for everyone. presented.
“So you’re saying I have the right to override that doctor’s decision because I know more than he does?” Aberasturi said.
“It has to do with the right of individuals to make their own decisions. I’m not going to tell them what to do. I’m sorry, but this is upsetting,” he added.
Tribble disagreed, saying the safety of coronavirus vaccines has not been proven.
“They show up at the door trusting us, and we keep breaking that trust by saying, implicitly or not, that there’s no danger in these things.”
The CDC recommends the coronavirus vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older and recognizes the potential risks.
Board member Jennifer Reeve said she disagrees with many of the CDC’s recommendations but believes it is not the board’s role to make these types of decisions.
“What concerns me about this is the process, because if this board and six county commissioners and one physician are going to be making decisions about every vaccine and drug that we administer, , I don’t buy that,” she said. In this time of COVID-19, we may follow the same path as the measles and shingles vaccinations. ”
“As a health agency, as a public health agency, I don’t know why we would provide that or make it available when we can go elsewhere,” board member Viki Purdy said.
Dr. David Pate, former CEO of St. Luke’s Health System and a member of the governor’s coronavirus task force, told Idaho Matters that the decision was made to increase the number of people who want to get vaccinated. He said it would only create an economic barrier for the country.
“We now have so much data that we can still promote scientific nonsense and scare people and have public health committees made up of the entire population and be fooled by it and vote yes. “We know for a fact that there is a group of doctors who can throw their weight behind us. I’m disheartened by the reporting of disinformation about vaccines.”
The district serves Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette and Washington counties. The organization had already received 50 doses of the vaccine at the time of the vote. They will continue to head to skilled nursing facility residents in Canyon County.
COVID-19 vaccines are still available at other locations, including commercial pharmacies and medical clinics not affiliated with Southwest District Health.
Note: A draft version of this story was temporarily published and has been updated
