Idaho Public Health Department Restricted From Giving COVID-19 Vaccines In 6 Counties; Here's Why

A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines in at least six counties after a narrow decision by its board. Southwest District Health is the first in the United States to be restricted from giving COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department.

While policymakers in Texas banned health departments from promoting COVID-19 and Florida's surgeon general bucked medical consensus to recommend against the shots, governmental bodies across the country have not blocked them outright.

"I'm not aware of anything else like this," said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She refuted reports that health departments have stopped offering the vaccine because of a judgment of the medical product but said the decision was based on cost or low demand.

The six-county district along the Idaho-Oregon border includes three counties in the Boise metropolitan area.

According to experts, the demand for COVID-19 vaccines in the health district has declined considerably, with statistics showing just 1,601 given in 2021 compared to 64 so far in 2024. The same goes for other vaccines.

Experts say Idaho has the highest childhood vaccination exemption rate in the country and last year, the Southwest District Health Department rushed to contain a rare measles outbreak that sickened 10 children. Late last month, the health department’s board voted 4-3 in favour of the ban, despite Southwest's medical director testifying to the vaccine's necessity as the cases of coronavirus infection were spiking across the state due to weather change.

"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," Dr. Perry Jansen said at the meeting. "This is not a blind, everybody-gets-a-shot approach. This is a thoughtful approach," Dr. Jansen added.

Opposite Jansen's plea were 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.

Many of those who attended the meeting are nationally known for making the rounds to testify against COVID-19 vaccines since they came into action, including Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist who sells "contagion emergency kits" that include ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine - drugs that have not been to treat COVID-19 and can have dangerous side effects.

Many in the board have said they are skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines as Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi, in an interview with the Associated Press said he was supportive of but "disappointed" in the board's decision, as the decision may have “possibly opened a door to blocking other vaccines or treatments".

According to the board members, they favoured against the banning of the vaccine as they did not feel they were safe. Many in the US are reluctant to get vaccinated or boosted because of misinformation about the shots, despite evidence that they are do not cause any harm and have saved millions of lives.

State health officials have said that they recommend that people consider the vaccines, which are still available at community health centers for those 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, adding that the board is supposed to be caring for the "health and well-being" of the district's residents.

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