Southwest District Health in Idaho recently made the decision to stop providing COVID-19 vaccines to residents in six counties. This makes them the first public health department in the nation to be restricted from giving out COVID vaccines. Vaccinations are a crucial function of a public health department, and this decision is unprecedented. The board of the health department voted 4-3 in favor of the ban, despite the medical director testifying to the necessity of the vaccine. Demand for COVID vaccines in the district has declined, with only 64 vaccines given in 2024 compared to 1,601 in 2021.
Idaho has the highest childhood vaccination exemption rate in the nation and the Southwest District Health Department recently had to contain a rare measles outbreak that sickened 10 people. Some board members argued that people could get vaccinated elsewhere and that providing the shots was equivalent to signing off on their safety. However, many people getting vaccinated at the health department have no other options, including those without housing, homebound individuals, and those in long-term care facilities. This decision could potentially block other vaccines or treatments in the future, as it sets a precedent for health departments to restrict access to necessary medical products based on individual opinions.
Numerous public comments were received, with many calling for an end to vaccine mandates or taxpayer funding of the vaccines, despite these not being issues in the district. At the meeting, voices familiar from earlier local protests of pandemic measures spoke out against COVID vaccines, including Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist selling unapproved treatments for COVID-19. Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi expressed skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines and national public health leaders. He was supportive of the board’s decision but disappointed in their choice to restrict vaccine access in the district.
State health officials recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine, but the specific health district’s decision to stop providing the vaccine has not been commented on. The health department spokesperson noted that COVID-19 vaccines are still available at community health centers for uninsured individuals. Aberasturi plans to bring up the issue at the next board meeting and ask if the health department can at least vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities. The board is meant to care for the health and well-being of the district’s residents, and Aberasturi believes that this decision did not fulfill that duty.
The decision made by Southwest District Health goes against the standard practice of public health departments stopping vaccine distribution due to cost or low demand, rather than judgments on the safety or efficacy of the medical product. The ban on COVID vaccines in six counties in Idaho is unprecedented and could have broader implications for public health nationwide. Despite evidence showing that COVID vaccines are safe and effective, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy continue to be significant barriers to achieving widespread vaccination. The role of public health departments in providing access to vaccines, particularly for vulnerable populations, is critical in the ongoing effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
