Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) was fully vaccinated back in April with his colleagues at the Oregon State Hospital, now has tested positive for COVID-19, although contact tracing shows he contracted the coronavirus from another fully vaccinated individual.

“I watched the Governor’s Press Conference today 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). Once again, Portland dictates the mandates across the state, as earlier this week Portland Public Schools mandated vaccines for all teachers and staff and now the Governor forces the rest of the state to comply.”

“With urban democrats tweeting vaccine mandates for Oregonians to be able to dine in restaurants to their shaming of those; specifically calling out rural Oregonians, who choose to be unvaccinated, when is enough – enough? Where and at what profession do the vaccine mandates end? I am living proof that vaccinated individuals can still contract Covid from another vaccinated individual. Where is this data? Why is there not a concerted effort to learn and collect data on the “breakthrough” cases that I and others are a part of? Where is the Governor’s efforts on dealing with hospital capacity? A 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation Study; reported again in December of 2020, shows that Oregon has fewer hospital beds per capita than any other state in the U.S. and yet our healthcare institutions had to practically beg for financial help during the last surge of the pandemic. Where is the democrat supermajority’s action on funding to increase our hospital capacity in Oregon when we know that no matter how many Oregonians are vaccinated, Covid will always be with us?”

“I fear forcing vaccinations on teachers, health care workers and staff is only the beginning and the Governor must stop these tyrannical mandates now. She must also hold our School Districts harmless and at minimum, fund them at 2019 levels as her mandates will surely drive more children and staff out of our classrooms. This will be especially true for our smaller school districts that can barely keep, let alone attract, teachers and staff.”

“Covid is here to stay. I and my family are vaccinated by choice. I have and continue to encourage Oregonians to be vaccinated against Covid. I and thousands of others like me are proof however that you can still contract and spread Covid even if vaccinated. Forcing these vaccines on Oregonians is wrong. Forcing these vaccines on Oregonians based on their profession is worse. These actions are none other than a symptom of Oregonians lack of trust in their Governor, her leadership and the rollercoaster of agency mandates over the last year and a half of ‘14 days to flatten the curve’.”

Representative David Brock Smith represents House District 1, which includes Curry, Coos, Douglas and Josephine counties.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-20 07:20:40

Last Update: 2021-08-19 17:17:33