Republican lawmakers’ anger over the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandate has put in jeopardy $27 million in federal pandemic relief to boost the state’s vaccination efforts.

As the Executive Council did on Sept. 15, the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee on Sept. 17 voted along party lines to table a request from the Department of Health and Human Services to use the federal money for 13 new positions that would include a public health program manager and 12 workers to promote the vaccine, address the public’s concerns about it, and help over 500 vaccine providers understand and comply with the state’s relatively new vaccine registry.

“I think there’s a much bigger issue looming that’s facing all of us, and that is the collision between public-benefit medical care and individual privacy,” said Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren. “I see this (proposed vaccination effort and vaccine registry) as a process ... for supporting what I consider to be an unconstitutional mandate for vaccines that leaves our citizens no option.”

State leaders from both parties have voiced opposition to a state vaccine mandate, and a new state law prohibits state and local governments from implementing one. The federal mandate, however, will require some Granite Staters to be vaccinated because it applies to federal workers, most healthcare providers, and employers with 100 or more workers. Only the last group will have the option of frequent testing instead.

The opposition came immediately after the mandate was announced, and it’s been fierce.

House Republicans held an anti-mandate rally Sept. 14 that didn’t end as planned when the crowd turned against lawmakers, saying they were doing too little to block the mandate. House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, later announced he has proposed legislation to prohibit the state from enforcing the Biden administration’s mandate.

Senate Republicans shared a letter they sent to the federal delegation demanding they oppose the mandate, predicting the state’s healthcare workforce shortage will worsen as workers quit rather than get vaccinated. Senate Democrats responded quickly, accusing Republicans of promoting an “anti-public health” message. “There is absolutely no reason to fight against vaccination efforts beyond scoring political points with the extreme far right,” said Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy.

The department’s $27 million vaccine outreach plan will remain in limbo until both the Executive Council and Fiscal Committee take the request off the table and vote.

— ANNMARIE TIMMINS/NEW HAMPSHIRE BULLETIN