August 25, 2021 3:50 a.m.

State Representative David Brock Smith is slamming Governor Kate Brown’s recent vaccine mandates.

Brock Smith said he watched the Governor’s recent press conference in disbelief, “appalled at her mandating vaccines and at the fear mongering tactics of Oregon Health Authority Director Allen (who has no health degree) and State Epidemiologist Sidelinger (who is a pediatrician and has no degree in epidemiology)”. Brock Smith said once again Portland dictates the mandates across the state, as earlier Portland Public Schools mandated vaccines for all teachers and staff, and now the Governor is forcing the rest of the state to comply.

Brock Smith said he fears that forcing vaccinations on teachers, health care workers and staff is only the beginning. He said “…the Governor must stop these tyrannical mandates now”. He said the mandates will drive more children and staff out of the classrooms. Brock Smith said this will be especially true for smaller school districts that can barely keep, let alone attract, teachers and staff.

Brock Smith said he was fully vaccinated in April, although contact tracing shows he later contracted the coronavirus from another fully vaccinated individual. His release asked why there is not a concerted effort to learn and collect data on breakthrough cases. He also said the state needs to increase its hospital capacity, pointing to a 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation study.

Brock Smith said “forcing vaccine on Oregonians is wrong. Forcing vaccines on Oregonians based on their profession is worse”.

Brock Smith was on Inside Douglas County Tuesday on News Radio 1240 KQEN talking about vaccine mandates and other topics. That interview is a KQEN podcast at www.541radio.com.