Why can’t some Idahoans get a COVID vaccine?

The Southwest Idaho Health District’s Board of Health voted to remove COVID vaccines from its facilities following presentations by several doctors known for spreading anti-vaccine misinformation, including Dr. Ryan Cole and others. These speakers questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, which influenced some board members, particularly Dr. John Tribble, who expressed concerns about vaccine safety and trust issues.

The Southwest Idaho Health District Board consists of seven people, only one of whom is a physician who has been outspoken against COVID vaccines. He uses his status as an emergency physician to claim that vaccines are untested and unsafe, but he does not regularly give vaccines.

COVID vaccines have undergone rigorous testing in clinical trials and ongoing safety monitoring by major health organizations, including the CDC, FDA, and WHO. This testing shows the vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID, especially for high-risk groups.

Presenters to the board include notable purveyors of misinformation like Dr. Peter McCullough who has been widely criticized by medical and scientific communities for misrepresenting data and making unsupported claims.

By endorsing misinformation, the board is creating unnecessary barriers to healthcare access, which will likely have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Maintaining COVID vaccines at health district offices supports the mission of public health, protecting both individuals and the broader community by making essential preventive care accessible to all.