What is normally a routine flu vaccine order issued each year for health care workers in Nevada County sparked a large rally outside the Board of Supervisors meeting at the Rood Center yesterday. Many who spoke, during public comment, were upset that the original order would only allow a medical declination. It was then changed to allow any declination. And the wife of one health care worker, Denise Billberg, was also offended by what she felt was the suggestion, by Interim Public Health Officer Rick Johnson, that those signing a declination would violate the hippocratic oath…
Many speaking out were part of the recent anti-vaccine movement and its alleged adverse impacts. Meanwhile, former Nevada City Mayor and Council member, Reinette Senum, was among those who felt the order suggested that shots could eventually be mandatory for everyone, including for the coronavirus. She equated that to committing crimes against humanity…
Johnson reiterated that the order does not apply to the public and focusses only on health care workers each influenza season…
The order also states that in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that preventing a surge of influenza is even more critical than usual.
Paul Legge
I just wanted to add that this years flu vaccine order did appear to attempt to remove the religious exemption. This was the big conversation for some. Beyond the conversation of the benefits or risk of the flu vaccine shot or other vaccines is a concern that the first version of this order was clearly violating the civil rights act of 1964 which protects those with a religious exemption. As our government, citizens and local employers seek to fight the seasonal flu and COVID, it's imperative that we cherish, value and uphold our civil rights. In my opinion, the ends do not justify the means.
Of additional interest is that this issue has come up with other counties as well over recent weeks and months.