Northampton health officials end debate over vaccine passport

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NORTHAMPTON – City officials have no plans to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for clients and employees of domestic companies, ending the controversial idea that generated hundreds of public comments over several weeks.

Director of Public Health Meridith O’Leary said in a statement that the issue of the so-called vaccine passport for all people aged 5 and over has died for the time being, citing the lack of scientific evidence that would make it difficult. significantly transmitting the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

“The Board of Health will not discuss vaccine requirements at future meetings unless the data suggests that such a requirement would be necessary or beneficial,” O’Leary wrote. “Innovative infections and transmission are occurring in vaccinated individuals, but the data clearly show that vaccines continue to provide protection against initial infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death.”

The latest COVID-19 statistics released by the Northampton Department of Health cover the two-week period from 30 December to 12 January. During this time, there were 792 new cases of COVID-19 in the city, accounting for 27% of all cases. since the beginning of the pandemic. The case count does not include the results of home antigen tests.

At the next virtual meeting of the Board of Health on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the board “will discuss other short-term public health measures that may help reduce community transmission of COVID-19,” according to O’Leary.

Also on Thursday, the City Council plans to make the first reading of a resolution against anti-Semitism in direct response to comments made by some members of the public at the meeting of the Health Council on 28 December. One man criticized the board as “unelected, wealthy Jewish doctors” while another asked members if they planned to put unvaccinated people in “camps”; a third person used swastikas as a Zoom profile photo.

“Northampton, Massachusetts City Council calls on all local public officials, residents and visitors to show solidarity with our family, friends, neighbors and members of the Jewish community and to condemn and denounce anti-Semitism in any form,” he says. the draft resolution. “We commend (the city’s health officials) for their tireless dedication and leadership during the challenge of a global pandemic.”

As part of O’Leary’s written statement, public health nurse Vivian Franklin said the quality of the masks is a critical factor in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and called for the use of KN95 masks. , KF94 or N95, or two surgical masks, in public settings.

“Any mask is better than no mask, but fabric masks offer variable protection against transmission when used alone,” Franklin wrote. “They offer better protection when layered with a surgical mask. It’s also crucial that if you feel sick, you stay home and get tested.”