Did Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska become a Vaccine Mandate Sanctuary?

While searching for their Second Amendment Sanctuary ordinance, I ran across another resolution that they had passed that appeared to be focused on ensuring that their citizens are not forced to take a COVID-19 Vaccine if they choose not to do so. We have published articles about Health Mandate Sanctuaries in the past and this resolution appeared to be a very focused subset of that concept.

I want to point out that the Assembly in Kenai very strongly desired not to cast the vaccine in a negative light. So much so, that they actually modified some of the language in the resolution as well as the title of the resolution to remove any conception that they are against the vaccination. They instead wanted to promote vaccinations for those who desire them while voicing opposition to any mandated vaccinations of those who wish not to be vaccinated. Additionally, they never used the term “sanctuary” in the resolution; yet, one of the members of the public who called in to speak about the resolution did compare it to the Second Amendment Sanctuary ordinance that they passed earlier.

The resolution passed 8 to 1 and the video of the board meeting and text of the resolution are included below:

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KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH
RESOLUTION 2020-078

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE A COVID-19 VACCINE ON PRIORITIZED AND OPTIONAL BASIS

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “immunization with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of the United States’ strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths and to help restore societal functioning”; and

WHEREAS, the CDC issued a COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations on September 16, 2020 which provides detailed information for state, territorial and local public health programs and their partners on how to plan and operate a vaccination response to COVID-19 within their jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, the stated goal is to have enough COVID-19 vaccine for all people in the United States who wish to be vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, significant progress is underway towards developing such vaccines; and

WHEREAS, the United States continues to face a great deal of social turmoil, severe economic hardships, and associated emotional and physical problems due in large part to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the CDC web page discussing historical vaccine safety concerns states “Where is solid medical and scientific evidence that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks, there have been concerns about the safety of vaccines for as long as they have been available in the U.S”; and

WHEREAS, significant efforts are underway to develop safe vaccinations against COVID-19 to promote public health and safety, but many people are concerned that a new vaccine could potentially have serious harmful effects on themselves; and

WHEREAS, according to a recent Gallup Poll the percentage of Americans willing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus dropped 11 percentage points to 50 percent in late September, 2020; and

WHEREAS, requiring everyone to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once the vaccine is publicly available is likely to face significant resistance during an already highly volatile time in history; and

WHEREAS, the best interests of the state would be served by encouraging people to get the COVID-1 9 vaccination when it becomes available, but not requiring them to take it;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH:

SECTION 1. The assembly supports Kenai Peninsula Borough residents receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on a prioritized and optional basis.

SECTION 2. That copies of this resolution shall be provided to Governor Michael Dunleavy and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink, MD, FACEP.

ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH THIS 10TH DAY NOVEMBER, 2020.