As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s dismantling of federal vaccine policy continues to roil the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some Democratic-led states have built their own new systems to help evaluate the science and maintain access to vaccinations for their residents.
Four western states (California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington) created cooperation for Maintain access to vaccines. Several northeastern states have done this. same.
The New York Governor said,Statewide Disaster EmergencyThis is a bill that allows pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine without a separate prescription. Minnesota made similar changes, and Massachusetts also Ask for insurance company You must pay for not only the vaccines recommended by the CDC, but also those recommended by the Department of Health.
These changes represent a significant shift in public health authority from the federal government to the states. In addition to vaccines, states have traditionally looked to the CDC for expertise and guidance on public health issues such as workplace safety, water fluoridation, e-cigarettes, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Now that Kennedy is concerned undermine trust In the areas of vaccines and public health science, some states are blazing new trails, finding new sources of scientific consensus, and changing how they regulate insurance companies, prescribers, and pharmacists.
Colorado has been at the forefront of this trend. On September 3, state officials released the following statement: standing order To enable pharmacists to provide COVID-19 vaccinations Without individual prescription.
“I will not allow outrageous and costly red tape or decisions in Washington to prevent Coloradans from accessing the vaccine,” he said. Democratic Governor Jared Polis.
But Colorado leaders have already been paving the way for more autonomy over vaccine policy for months.
Last March, the state Legislature voted: change the law This allows states to consider scientific sources other than the federal government when setting school vaccine requirements.
“This new HHS director could see the writing on the wall that it was being overly politicized rather than relying on real science,” he said. State Senator Kyle Mullica.
Mullica, who co-sponsored the new bill, is a Democrat and works as an emergency room nurse in the Denver area.
Colorado was one of the first states to change its laws to allow vaccine recommendations to be based on sources other than the CDC. State health boards can now also consult with major medical groups, including: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physiciansand American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“We decided to protect Colorado,” Mullica said, “so it wouldn’t be vulnerable to the political upheaval we’re seeing right now.”
The Democratic-led Legislature passed the bill on a near party-line vote. Nonetheless, Polis signed the bill into law last April. praised Kennedy’s selection last fall.
“I think Colorado is leading the way in this area,” he said. david higginsA pediatrician at the University of Colorado was part of a group of stakeholders who helped write the bill.
Higgins pointed to: companion billHe said the agreement, signed in May, makes Colorado’s push even stronger. It addresses insurance coverage for preventive health care services, with the goal of ensuring that state-regulated insurance plans cover some vaccine costs, regardless of the CDC’s future actions.
“Effectively, this is to ensure that Coloradans still have access to the vaccine,” he said.
The Colorado chapter of Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group that Kennedy led before taking over HHS, did not respond to a request for comment.
Democratic state, another co-sponsor of the first bill. Rep. Lindsay GilchristWith so much misinformation circulating about vaccines, including about the coronavirus, he said it’s important to hear from a variety of trusted medical experts.
Colorado previously looked to the CDC for scientific guidance on vaccines, especially for children entering school. Like other states, it has tracked the recommendations of a CDC panel known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Kennedy fired In June, all 17 members were replaced by 12 new appointees. Critics warn that some of these people are vaccine skeptics and are not qualified to provide important guidance to Americans.
“I think the difference in recommendations between ACIP, which we’ve traditionally followed, and everyone else, is going to be confusing,” said Ned Calonge, Colorado’s chief medical officer.
He said the national group of specialty physicians that Colorado is now authorized to consult will likely align on overall guidelines and expects Kennedy to “review the last evidence-based recommendations provided by ACIP” before replacing members.
In May Kennedy announced The federal government has removed the COVID-19 vaccine from the list of immunizations recommended for healthy pregnant women and children.
But Colorado still recommends COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, Kalonji said.
“There is no new evidence of safety concerns in that population.” Calong said.. “So we are advising providers to continue to follow the recommendations that were implemented in January 2025.”
in statement The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommended on its website that pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19. “ACOG continues to recommend that all pregnant and lactating women receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, or ‘booster.’
Likewise, the American Academy of Pediatrics August Recommendation All children between 6 and 23 months of age, as well as older children in certain risk groups, should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Currently, Colorado is following the same vaccination recommendations it used last year.
The most recent ACIP meeting, held on September 18th and 19th, was chaotic. Members admitted they did not understand what they were voting on and even decided to re-vote on pediatric MMRV vaccine access. The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for October 22 and 23, and there may be further changes to vaccine recommendations.
Doctors and vaccine scientists have expressed alarm about the fragmenting national consensus on vaccines.
“Now there will be even more confusion and mistrust about vaccines among the public.” Allison KempeHe is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and worked at ACIP from 2013 to 2018.
Nonetheless, she said she is glad Colorado is moving forward with its own recommendations.
This article was produced in partnership with: Colorado Public Radio, NPRKFF Health News.
KFF Health News is one of the core operating programs of KFF, a national newsroom producing in-depth journalism on health issues and an independent source of health policy research, opinion polling and journalism. Learn more Kff.
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