With U.S. federal support uncertain, states and nonprofits are moving quickly to safeguard access to vaccines and counter changes to national immunization policy.
States Take Lead as Federal Vaccine Policy Shifts
Amid growing uncertainty from Washington, states and health organizations across the U.S. are working urgently to preserve public access to vaccines following major changes to federal guidance.
National Standards Upended
In May, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s longstanding vaccine advisory panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing them with eight new members—some of whom have publicly questioned vaccine safety. He also bypassed ACIP’s process to remove Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. These moves have alarmed health experts and sparked state-level responses.
Regional Coalitions Rise
Nine Northeastern states have formed the Northeast Public Health Collaboration, a new regional alliance aimed at coordinating health policy in the absence of federal leadership. Their focus includes vaccine access, pandemic preparedness, lab services, and epidemiology. While organizers describe their work as early-stage, they acknowledge increased urgency following federal shakeups.
States Modify Vaccine Laws
States like Maine and Colorado are revising laws to preserve access. Maine has removed ACIP language from its vaccine statute and is building alternatives outside of the federal Vaccines for Children Program. Colorado passed a law allowing its health commissioner to retain coverage for preventive services—including vaccines—based on recommendations that existed before the federal overhaul.
Deepening Legal Impact Across the U.S.
The policy shifts could disrupt immunization access in schools, pharmacies, and hospitals. Multiple states—such as New Mexico, Missouri, and Alabama—tie school entry requirements to ACIP guidelines. Others, like Tennessee, mandate that vaccine education materials align with ACIP language. If federal recommendations change, state laws may become outdated or inoperative, raising serious public health concerns.
Nonprofits Step In to Fill the Gap
Beyond government action, nonprofits are stepping up. The Vaccine Integrity Project, led by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, is creating independent vaccine guidance and countering misinformation. Funded by philanthropist Christy Walton, the group includes former public health officials and aims to help states revise vaccine laws to reflect evolving scientific standards.
Public Health Leaders Urge Action
Health officials say the decentralized response is far from ideal but increasingly necessary. Lori Tremmel Freeman of the National Association of County and City Health Officials warned that loss of federal support would have uneven and potentially severe consequences. “These are programs that impact every community in this country… If they go away, it will affect the health of every American,” she said.
Looking Ahead
As states prepare for future outbreaks and shifting federal policies, they are working to ensure that science-based immunization access continues, even if federal standards fall behind. With bipartisan urgency and growing public concern, the patchwork of state and nonprofit efforts could become the new foundation for vaccine access in America.
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