Bill aims to speed up Idaho coronavirus vaccinations

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation intended to speed up Idaho coronavirus vaccinations that includes a $5,000 fine for businesses that fail to report they're hanging onto unused doses.

The House State Affairs Committee cleared the way for a public hearing for the bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. John Gannon and Republican Rep. Bruce Skaug.

The bill would require businesses to administer 70% of vaccination doses within two weeks of receiving them. Unused doses would be sent to a different entity that could use them.

Nearly 90,000 Idaho residents have received their first dose of the two-shot vaccine. More than 26,000 have received both doses.

Demand for the vaccine remains high, with more than 265,000 Idaho residents 65 and older now eligible to be vaccinated. But the state is currently only getting about 25,000 "first doses" of the two-dose vaccine a week.

Some lawmakers had reservations about the legislation, noting the hefty fine might scare away businesses from taking part in the vaccination program.