County Commissioners oppose COVID vaccine mandates
By Paul Hall on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
UNION COUNTY – During Wednesday morning commissioner’s meeting, Union County Commissioner’s approved a resolution in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Union County Board of Commissioners are appreciative of the planning and implementation of COVID-19 safety measures and procedures that Union County Public Health, first responders, Union County Emergency Services, as well as countless volunteers, put into practice; and
Whereas; Union County Board of Commissioners are appreciative of Grande Ronde Hospital medical professionals, staff and administration, and other local medical professionals for the strong working relationship and the hard work that they have dedicated to keeping our citizens as safe as possible throughout the past seventeen months; and
WHEREAS; Educators, Staff and Administration across Union County developed and successfully carried out largely in-person education for the 2020-2021 school year; and
Whereas; Union County is experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for a variety of employment positions and a large number of businesses, facilities, and agencies are having unfilled positions and long-term vacancies; and
WHEREAS; This Resolution is not intended to be a debate about the reality and dangers of COVID-19 or the Delta variant, or even the efficacy of the vaccine. The decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a personal and private conversation and choice between the individual and their healthcare provider; and
WHEREAS; As evidenced by the outcry from Union County citizens subject to the most recent vaccine mandates, a mandate will not result in significantly more vaccinated health care workers, public employees, and educators, but rather will drive them out of our organizations to other states or out of their chosen profession altogether. The decision to mandate vaccines will put our rural health, pub service, and education systems at risk by a loss of experienced, qualified employees, while potentially being counterproductive to increasing vaccination rates.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED; that the Union County Board of Commissioners consider mandatory vaccines, vaccine passports, or any sort of vaccine verification system being considered at the State and National levels beyond what is necessary to address the current situation with COVID-19.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union County Board of Commissioners considers it is an invasion of privacy, places undue burden, and shows an inherent distrust in the ability of individuals to make decisions for themselves regarding bodily autonomy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union County Board of Commissioners have been and will continue to be supportive of taking a variety of steps to slow the spread of COVID-19, to keep each other safe and healthy, and to thoughtfully keep Union County open for business and our schools open for our students.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union County Board of Commissioners is committed to and encourages citizens to be patient with each other recognizing this is another challenging transition after an extremely challenging year and to supporting our families, students, healthcare workers, first responders, public employees, educators, small businesses and communities however we can.
