Public health activities, including public health responses to communicable diseases, are carried out at the state and local level by the Department of Health, the State Board of Health, and local health jurisdictions. For example, the Secretary of Health is required to investigate outbreaks and epidemics of disease and advise local health officers on measures to control such outbreaks and epidemics. Similarly, local health jurisdictions are required to prevent the spread of dangerous, contagious, or infectious diseases and take measures necessary to promote the public health. Local health jurisdictions are also required to institute disease control measures, including testing, counseling, treatment, and vaccination.
It is declared the policy of the state that public health responses to address communicable diseases be guided by the best available science on the safety and efficacy of evidence-based measures to control the spread of such diseases, including immunizations and vaccines. State and local officials must, within available resources, implement and promote evidence-based, appropriate measures to control the spread of communicable diseases, including immunizations and vaccines.
The state and its political subdivisions may not enact statutes, ordinances, rules, or policies that prohibit the implementation and promotion of such measures. Any such statute, ordinance, rule, or policy is declared null and void.
The substitute bill makes terminology in the bill consistent by changing a reference to "vaccines" to "immunizations and vaccines" consistent with the rest of the bill.
(In support) This bill is meant to address a situation in other states where local health departments were prohibited from sharing quality information with the public. This includes measures that are taken for granted like vaccines for flu and shingles or trying to get senior citizens and vulnerable people to take precautionary measures for communicable diseases. This bill will help prevent the next disease outbreak like tuberculosis or avian flu. Confidence in the public health system has been shattered and needs to be rebuilt. This bill is not a critique of people who want to make their own decisions and have bodily autonomy, but is solely to allow the good work the public health system has been doing. Washington citizens need to have accurate health information to help them make decisions for themselves and their families. Public health officials should be allowed to carry out their duty to educate the public with evidence-based information. This includes information on immunizations and other disease control measures. This bill takes a scientific approach and will ensure officials act in the public's best interest, guided by scientific principles. Public health officials in rural areas have worked hard to build trust in their communities. The level of immunizations statewide is decreasing, which can lead to tragedy. Vaccines save lives, including the millions of children who were protected from polio. It is not a matter of whether there will be another pandemic, but a matter of when.
(Opposed) This bill is redundant, vague, unpopular and would only increase the public's distrust in the public health system. This bill is an example of government overreach and is a human rights violation of epic proportions. This bill centralizes control at the state level by stripping local officials of their autonomy and will lead to a totalitarian government. This bill would not change the state's response to an outbreak. There are plenty of laws and resources already in place. The emergency clause in this bill will give officials time to make irreversible changes before they can be considered by the courts or our nation's higher echelons. This bill is an undemocratic power grab that will give unelected, easily bought, and cherry-picked scientists the ability to dictate measures that go against the will of the people. Any science that does not fit the political agenda will be censored. People who resist will be punished. This bill will give a few government officials carte blanche to wield whatever powers they want. The nation's public health policies are based on evidence and science from corrupt individuals who have a financial stake in policies that cost people their lives. Physicians in Washington should have the ability to advise their patients without fear of reprisal. The nation's medical system has been degraded since 2020 and this bill will perpetuate it. People are being forced to administer an untested medicine without years of positive clinical trials. This bill gives too many emergency powers to the Governor. This bill would block the right for people to protest. The COVID-19 vaccines caused harm to people, even though people were initially told they were safe and effective. It is crucial for this bill to include provisions that address informed consent and bodily autonomy. Vaccine manufacturers are protected liability and there needs to be compensation mechanisms for injured persons. This bill will decrease the level of trust in Washington's public health system. For the last four years, people have been pressured, threatened, lost jobs, and denied education for making personal health choices. Parents, not politicians should decide what's best for children.
(In support) Rex Johnson, Washington Advocates for Patient Safety; Dr. Allison Berry, WSALPHO; Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, Washington State Department of Health; Janice Flood-Nichols, Parent; Dr. Lelach Rave, WCAAP; Dr. Maria Huang, WCAAP; and Caitlin Safford.
Deja Parrent; Alexa Street; Scott Halfacre; Brandie Bills; Kali Sanford; Jennifer Wright; Emily Jensen; Marnie Ng; Courtney Gipson; Megan Carlson; Jodi Dotson; Edward McCorkle; Dolores Patrick; Cleo Voreades; and Jason Utt.