Little: Unvaccinated can't be denied health care

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COEUR d’ALENE — Gov. Brad Little said Monday that people who are unvaccinated can’t be denied medical care.

“Where do you draw the line?” he said during an online AARP town-hall meeting.

Little responded to a question from a caller who argued that those who refuse to get a vaccine for protection against COVID-19 should be refused a hospital bed if they get ill from the virus — especially if it means someone who is vaccinated can’t get an elective surgery because of hospital overcrowding.

“Why do they have to get all the care?” she said.

The caller also questioned who is paying the medical costs for those without insurance hospitalized for the coronavirus.

“Is that basically on all of us as taxpayers?” she said.

Little said while he agreed it’s not fair, that is how the system works.

“In our country, everybody gets health care,” he said.

“It’s embedded in all our health care costs for people who don’t practice the right behavior,” Little added

He said it would be a fine line to start denying people health care based on lifestyle choices.

For instance, he said if a person chooses to ride a motorcycle or a horse, activities with a higher risk of injury, should they be refused health care if they get hurt?

That’s not how health care works in the U.S., the governor said.

“Take everybody who comes through the front door,” Little said.

The governor said there is “no question” if more people were vaccinated, there would be fewer in hospitals and fewer deaths attributed to the virus.

Breakthrough cases, those who are vaccinated still getting the coronavirus, are rising and up to about 20% in Idaho.

Little continues to urge people to get vaccinated. He said residents need to “think about your health care workers” and said the battle with COVID-19 has gone on “way longer than anyone thought."

“Keep people out of ICU and out of hospitals, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

But he opposed vaccine mandates.

Two weeks ago, Little announced he joined a multistate lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s mandate that requires employees of federal contractors be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8.

He said Idaho is also joining a multistate lawsuit against the Biden administration over an emergency rule mandating that employers with more than 100 workers require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing.

That emergency rule is on hold as it was halted by a federal court.

“I never have been and never will be a big mandate person,” he added.

A caller named Janet in Shoshone County questioned why Idaho was "fighting something that is supposed to help save lives."

"I detest the fact that we’re fighting them and using taxpayer money," she said.

Little maintained Idaho's infection rates are lower than many states with mandates, because mandates are not effective.

His goal all along has been to put the facts out there and let people make the "right decision."

“It’s really important you have a high comfort level with the vaccine,” he said.

Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said the number of new COVID-19 cases in the state have been declining, the positivity rates is falling and hospitalizations are going down, too.

“That’s a really good sign,” he said.

Idaho has had 3,678 deaths attributed to COVID-19 and Jeppesen said the number of deaths should decline, too.

When asked if the need for boosters will be eliminated if herd immunity is reached, Jeppesen said time would tell "if there is another variant that requires a booster shot."