Wynn Lacy’s position on the Oak Park Health Board caused controversy last winter because of her vaccination beliefs. Her decision and her comparison of mitigation to punishment drew a lot of criticism, with many calling for her to quit the Volunteer Committee.
Since then, Lacy seems to be doing just that.
In an email sent to the Health Staff Liaison Committee on April 23, Lacy said she would not participate in future meetings of the committee.The journal Wednesday obtained the email through the Freedom of Information Act.
“I will no longer attend Health Board meetings as a volunteer,” Lacy wrote. “I spoke with the president [Vicki] Scamman to let her know. Good luck!
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Lacy’s quiet departure stands in stark contrast to how she was very vocal about her beliefs just a few months ago.
This short email, just three sentences in total, was sent just three days before the Health Board’s meeting in April. Lacy, who missed her March meeting of the board, last attended the board of health on February 22.
It is unclear whether Lacy’s decision to step down was influenced by public criticism of her views on vaccinations or was independent. Lacy has previously stated that she does not consider herself an anti-Vaxer.
Despite being informed of Lacy’s decision, Scamman told the Journal on Wednesday he wasn’t sure if the criticism was the reason for her resignation. said she had spoken to Lacy “many times”, but Lacy did not specifically address the criticism she faced.
“I have spoken to her many times,” Scamman said. “And finally, she may be referring to [in the email]which means she didn’t think she would be effective on the health board.
According to Scamman, Lacy wanted “disagreements” to be given great value.
“She didn’t expect her opinion to be respected among her peers,” the mayor said.
Lacy’s views on vaccination are in direct conflict with Oak Park Public Health, which sees vaccination as a core public health function.
“There shouldn’t be a difference of opinion about vaccinations,” Oak Park Public Health Director Chapple McGruder previously told the Journal Wednesday.
In a recent interview, Chapple-McGruder did not share her thoughts on Lacy’s departure, only saying that the health department was grateful to all the volunteers.
However, Lacy is technically still Commissioner of Health, as her April 23 email does not count as a formal resignation. Trustee Susan Buchanan has offered some speculation as to why her Lacy resignation has not been made official for months.
Buchanan said, “From the village’s point of view, I’m guessing they decided not to pursue it because it was important that she not be at the meeting and she wouldn’t be able to spread lies about COVID and vaccines.
Buchanan is one of Lacy’s biggest critics. In addition to serving as a trustee liaison to the Board of Health, Buchanan is an occupational physician and faculty member at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. Since Lacy’s resignation, her views have not softened.
“I would like to formally resign, [Lacey] I can’t attend meetings anymore,” she said.
Village staff are now working to formalize Lacy’s resignation so they can appoint a replacement on the health board, Scamman said. You must submit an application to be considered to serve in
The village board has final approval to appoint civic candidates to the committee, but candidates must first be interviewed by the civic participation committee.
When asked if the village board would fill Lacy’s vacancy with someone who supports vaccination as a core tenet of public health, Scamman said that if Illinois’ guidance is not followed, someone will go to the board of health. It said it did not consider it appropriate to participate. Public Health Service and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With the country now facing a monkeypox outbreak on top of COVID-19, Buchanan took a tougher stance on anti-vaccine rhetoric.
“The Oak Park Health Board has no place for lies or misinformation about infectious diseases or other health issues.”
