Public commenter urges board to warn against mRNA COVID‑19 shots and to oppose state bill removing local communicable‑disease authority

During public comment at the Board of Health meeting, a member of the public urged commissioners and health officials to recommend that county residents avoid mRNA COVID‑19 vaccines and asked the board to oppose a proposed state bill (HB 1531) that the speaker said would strip local communicable‑disease authority.

The commenter cited recent studies and a presentation distributed to board members, saying the risk‑benefit profile of COVID‑19 mRNA vaccines had changed and asserting vaccine safety concerns. The commenter asked the board to issue a formal recommendation against the shots and to speak at a scheduled hearing in Olympia regarding HB 1531.

Board members asked whether the county runs vaccine clinics; staff said the county does not operate vaccination clinics. The county health officer, identified in the meeting as Dr. Kroger, said he had not yet reviewed the specific bill but offered to review the materials the commenter provided and to brief the board on vaccine safety and effectiveness if given time to prepare. Dr. Kroger said he believes COVID‑19 vaccines remain effective but that their relative importance has changed as illness severity and death rates have declined; he offered to present a prepared review to the board.

No board action was taken on the commenter’s request. Board members said they would forward the materials to the health officer for review and consider further discussion at a later meeting if additional information merits it.