A Regional Idaho Health Department Banned From Administering COVID-19 Vaccines

Idaho Southwest District Health reportedly is the first health department in the United States to be restricted from giving COVID-19 vaccines. Normally, vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department.

A narrow decision by its board forbids the regional public health department from providing vaccines in six Idaho counties, even though Dr. Perry Jansen, Idaho Southwest District Health medical director, testified to the necessity of offering the vaccine.

Idaho state health officials also said they “recommend that people consider the COVID-19 vaccine,” and noted that COVID-19 vaccines are still available at community health centers for people who are uninsured.

In correlation, Idaho also has the highest childhood vaccination exemption rate in the U.S. Last year, the Southwest District Health Department rushed to contain a rare measles outbreak in the region that sickened 10 unvaccinated people.