Public Health vaccination campaign to focus on freedom to choose

GILLETTE (WNE) — A COVID-19 vaccination campaign from Campbell County Public Health will have a strong emphasis on people’s freedom to choose.
For the second time in four months, Campbell County Commissioners voted on whether to allow Public Health to use a federal grant for an educational campaign about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The first time, the commissioners voted against it, but this time, they were in favor of it for a couple of reasons.
The commissioners approved an agreement between Public Health and the Wyoming Department of Health for a $631,765 federal grant. The money must be spent by June 30, 2024.
Public Health director Jane Glaser said the campaign will emphasize people’s freedom to choose whether they get vaccinated.
“This will be an educational campaign, and the slogan I want to incorporate into this campaign is, ‘We respect your choice.’ People have an opportunity to make their own decisions and ask us questions,” Glaser said.
Commission Chairman Del Shelstad said that because the campaign is focused on choice, he supports it.
“I really respect the people that want to get vaccinated and I really respect the people that don’t, it’s their choice,” he said. “If this campaign can be about choice, I’m in favor of it.”
Commissioner Colleen Faber said if the federal government comes back and says “you have to force all your children to be vaccinated,” the county has to be prepared to give the money back.
In November, the commissioners voted against using federal dollars for the COVID-19 vaccine campaign.
 
This story was published on Feb. 22, 2022.