To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the recent actions of the West Tisbury board of health having denied access to the town’s tick data to epidemiologist Leah Hamner. Both she and Betsy Van Landingham have the gratitude of the Island for their work in keeping up with the evolving tick issues. A kerfuffle doesn’t help much except to point out the several agents and agencies getting involved, and the need to figure out how to keep everyone informed, on track, and paid. Why doesn’t the county take this role? That way Hamner would not be fundraising for herself (she is self-employed, not a nonprofit), and we could keep her here, costs to be shared by each town.
During the pandemic we had the Tisbury health agent, Maura Healy, in charge of the Island-wide public health response. It worked very well. (Maura has since retired.) The M.V. Hospital and other health providers covered medical issues, too.
This time things are becoming more diverse. At least for now we should stick together.
Marie Laursen
Vineyard Haven
