SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane City Council Members are calling for one of their own to resign from the Board of Health because of comments he made about vaccines.
Councilman Mike Fagan said he will not be resigning from the Spokane Regional Board of Health, but he wants to clarify his comments about vaccines.
Other council members said he needs to clear up his views on the issue or they will vote to remove him from the board.
A recent outbreak of measles across the country has sparked a debate about vaccines and if they are effective.
Now the arguments for and against immunizations have come to the Spokane City Council.
"I do not get vaccinations but I'm not going to impose my opinion or my will on anyone else," stated Fagan.
Council Member Mike Fagan posted his view on immunizations on Facebook and now his fellow council members are saying that's not acceptable.
"I don't think he would have been appointed to the board of health by this city council had we known that he had anti-vaccination and anti-science views on this issue," said Ben Stuckart, the Spokane City Council President
Fagan said there are studies out there and pending lawsuits that question if immunizations actually help people live a healthy life. He also said he has been expressing his right to free speech.
"I believe that the science of vaccinations is not settled yet," said Fagan.
But other council members on the board say he needs to encourage everyone to get vaccinated.
"He bears a big responsibility being on the health board, to promote public health, to preserve life in Spokane County," said Jon Snyder, a Spokane City Council member.
Fagan told KREM 2 News that even if he does not believe in vaccines, he would not necessarily vote that way as a member of the board of health.
"It's not about me, it's about everybody else and if this is the majority that asking for the vaccinations, that's fine," said Fagan.
But others on the council said just putting out the thought that immunizations are not helpful is a dangerous move by Fagan.
The Spokane City Council President has a letter calling for Councilman Fagan to clarify his comments.
He will present it to the council tomorrow. Fagan said he is aware of the letter and plans to ask for 10 days to clear up what he has said about vaccines.
