The Department of Health and Social Services announced on Tuesday that Alaska now counts more people who have been vaccinated with their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine than there are residents who have tested positive for the virus. They also noted that Alaska is currently ranked first among states for the percentage of people per capita who have been given at least one shot.
As the state’s vaccination numbers topped the nation, the Kenai City Council received a presentation on Wednesday regarding the COVID-19 vaccination effort from Dr. Kristin Mitchell, a practicing physician out of Soldotna. The focus of her presentation was the safety of both vaccines, one from Pfizer and the other from Moderna, that are currently being utilized in Alaska.
Dr. Mitchell explained the science behind how these types of vaccines work, but spent a great deal of time debunking myths that have circulated about the vaccines, including that there is no way the vaccine could cause infertility, that 5G towers do not spread COVID-19, that no fetal tissue is used in the development of the vaccines, and that the vaccine does not introduce the virus to the body.
With regards to masks, Dr. Mitchell spoke to a council chamber where only one-sixth of the attendees wore masks. She explained why masks not only help prevent spreading COVID-19, but noted that they can help prevent receiving the virus, as well: “The more germs you breathe in when you get a viral infection, the more likely you are to have a severe case. If you don’t breathe in very much virus, you’re not likely to get very sick. If you breathe in a lot of virus, you have a higher risk of being very sick.”
While Dr. Mitchell’s information echoed the consensus of modern science regarding COVID-19 and its vaccines, a handful of members of the public took issue with not only the data presented by the doctor, but also the presentation itself.
Steve Carlson of Kenai was one of several public commenters who were offended: “I don’t know if we paid for that [the presentation], I don’t know if we paid for that video that was made, but it was like a promo video for vaccines. She completely left out…it’s just grossly inadequate. She completely left out some of the solutions against COVID. [She mentioned] vaccine, mask wearing, and social distancing. Really? You’re a trained doctor and you don’t know of all of the different ways to boost your immune system against viruses? It’s just grossly inadequate. It’s almost criminal. It is really criminal about this. We’re being forced… ‘Vaccines, vaccines, vaccines! They’re the only way to prevent coronavirus!’ It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Council Member Teea Winger thanked the public, one of whom called Dr. Mitchell an “indoctrination doctor” for offering an alternative take: “Thank you for getting up here and giving your insight on that. I’ve been an advocate to making sure that we’re showing both sides of that.”
Some attendees freely took it upon themselves to move the pieces of paper sitting on chamber seats intended to enforce where to sit, to comply with CDC social distancing recommendations. No city official enforced the seating protocol, though no other attendees could be heard voicing concern.
