State's health department is banned from giving out COVID vaccines
Six counties in Idaho will no longer be offering the COVID-19 vaccine after a regional health department board banned it.
In a 4-3 decision, the Southwest District Health - which covers several counties, including three in the Boise metropolitan area - decided to ban the controversial vaccine, despite concern from state health officials.
The board made the decision after watching presentations from multiple doctors that have been accused of spreading conspiracy theories, including Dr. Peter McCollough, a cardiologist who had his license threatened by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 2022.
They also heard from Idaho pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole; Dr. Renata Moon, who questioned vaccines before the Senate; and Dr. James Thorp, who appeared on the documentary Died Suddenly, which has since been debunked, according to Boise State Public Radio.
They were invited to speak by the only physician on the board, Dr. John Tribble.
The board also received more than 290 public comments, many of which called for an end to vaccine mandates or taxpayer funding of the vaccines, neither of which are happening in the district.
Dr. Perry Jansen, who works in the district, argued for the vaccine and its safety, saying: 'Our request of the board is that we would be able to carry and offer those [vaccines], recognizing that we always have these discussions of risks and benefits.
'This is not a blind, everybody-gets-a-shot approach. This is a thoughtful approach.'
Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi also expressed disappointment with the decision, but said he supported them.
He said the board had overstepped the relationship between patients and their doctors - and possibly opened the door to blocking other vaccines or treatments.
'So now, you're telling me that I have the right to override that doctor? Because I know more than he does?' he said, according to Boise State Public Radio.
'It has to do with the right of the individual to make that decision on their own. Not for me to dictate to them what they will do. Sorry, but this pisses me off.'
Fellow board member Jennifer Riebe agreed with Aberasturi's concerns that it won't stop at just the COVID-19 vaccine and it could come down to the board making decisions on every vaccine.
'I'm not comfortable with that,' she said, according to Boise State Public Radio. 'It may be COVID now, maybe we'll go down the same road with the measles vaccine or the shingles vaccine coverage.'
Board members in favor of the decision argued people can get vaccinated elsewhere, and that providing the shots was equivalent to signing off on their safety.
Some may be reluctant to get vaccinated or boosted because of misinformation about the shots, despite evidence that they're safe and have saved millions of lives.
However, the people getting vaccinated at the health department - including people without housing, people who are homebound and those in long-term care facilities or in the immigration process - had no other options, Jansen and Aberasturi said.
'I've been homeless in my lifetime, so I understand how difficult it can be when you're trying to get by and get ahead,' Aberasturi told AP. 'This is where we should be stepping in and helping.
'But we have some board members who have never been there, so they don't understand what it's like.'
State health officials have said that they 'recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine.'
Idaho Health Department spokesperson AJ McWhorter declined to comment on 'public health district business' to AP, but noted that COVID-19 vaccines are still available at community health centers for people who are uninsured.
Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities.
He believes the board is supposed to be caring for the 'health and well-being' of the district's residents.
'I believe the way we went about this thing is we didn't do that due diligence,' he told AP.
Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities.
He believes the board is supposed to be caring for the 'health and well-being' of the district's residents.
'I believe the way we went about this thing is we didn't do that due diligence,' he told AP.
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