The Southwest Idaho Health District (SWDH), a public health agency that oversees six counties in Idaho, announced on Oct. 22 that it will no longer provide COVID-19 vaccines at 30 locations where it provides healthcare services.
The District’s Board of Health voted 4-3 Tuesday to remove the shots from its facilities after receiving roughly 300 public comments urging them to do so. Before the vote, members heard presentations from cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole, pediatrician Dr. Renata Moon, and obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. James Thorp on the safety concerns related to the shots.
They were invited to present by the only physician on the Board, Dr. John Tribble. In addition to hearing presentations from McCullough, Moon, Cole, and Thorp, the board also heard from district staff physician Dr. Perry Jansen, who urged the board to continue to make the vaccine available at district clinics.
Public comments received by the board expressed outrage that local tax dollars were being used to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, while Board chair Kelly Aberasturi questioned the authority of the board to remove vaccines for everyone, saying many going to the District for COVID vaccines are referred by their doctor.
“So now, you’re telling me that I have the right to override that doctor? Because I know more than he does?” Aberasturi said. “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.”
Tribble disagreed, arguing that COVID-19 vaccines have not been proven to be safe or effective.
“They show up at the door, trusting us, and we continue to break that trust by saying, tacitly or otherwise, that these things, there’s no risk from these,” he said.
The CDC recommends everyone above the age of six months receive a COVID shot and has failed to acknowledge the tens of thousands of individuals who have been injured by these recommendations.
In its official statement, SWDH said they’re focusing their efforts on more pressing issues:
“Our community has faced a surge in mental health issues, substance abuse problems, and the ongoing need for reliable healthcare resources,” one SWDH representative said.
“As a local health district, we are best positioned to identify these needs and allocate resources accordingly. COVID-19 vaccinations are widely accessible through pharmacies and private healthcare providers, so we’re focusing our efforts on the areas that need us most.”
The SWDH board’s decision echoes a broader sentiment held by residents in southwest Idaho, where skepticism toward federal health policy has been high. Many locals see the agency’s announcement as a response to concerns that federal health authorities have overstated the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the mRNA-based shots developed by pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna.
Some residents argue that Idaho’s stance represents a more realistic and science-backed approach to the virus, especially as studies continue to reveal concerning data regarding vaccine efficacy.
The decision to pull COVID-19 vaccines from SWDH clinics also reflects a nationwide trend. As federal health agencies recommend booster after booster, a significant portion of the population has either lost interest or become increasingly wary of ongoing vaccination recommendations.
For now, SWDH’s decision serves as a bold statement that Idaho’s health board will prioritize what it deems are the most pressing local health concerns over the agenda of federal health agencies. Their stance exemplifies a growing movement of state and local health boards asserting that they should not be beholden to federal mandates if they conflict with community needs.
