Since the Minister of Health and Social Services of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the field of federal vaccine policy continues to develop centers for the control and prevention of diseases, some states led by the Democrats deleted independently, Setting up new systems To help them evaluate science and maintain immunization access to their inhabitants.
Four Western states – California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington – Created Cooperation Save access to vaccinesThe field of several north -eastern states made sameField
Governor New Yorka announced “Emergency emergency situation in the stateThis allows pharmacists to give covid-19 vaccines without a separate recipe. Minnesota made similar changes, and Massachusetts is The requirement of insurance carriers To pay for vaccines recommended by its health care department, not only those that are recommended by CDC.
The changes are a significant shift in the public health authority from the federal government to the States. Traditionally, the states turned to the CDC for experience and leadership on public health care, including in addition to vaccines, safety at the workplace, fluoride of water, wapings and sexually transmitted infections.
Now against the backdrop of fears that Kennedy Dress trust In the vaccines and science of public healthcare in some states, it outlines new ways, look for new sources of scientific consensus and changing how they regulate insurance companies, purpose and pharmacists.
Colorado was in the front of this wave. September 3, government officials released Standing order So that pharmacists provide pictures Without individual recipesField
“I will not allow a funny and expensive red tape or decisions made far in Washington so that the Coloradans do not get access to vaccines,” said Democratic Governor Jared PolisField
But the leadership of Colorado has been cleaning the path for more autonomy for several months with respect to the vaccine policy.
In March, the state legislative body voted for change the law Thus, the staff could consider scientific sources, except for the federal government when establishing requirements for vaccines at school.
“You could see the spelling on the wall that it becomes overly politicized, and not rely on real science with this new director of HHS,” said Senator Kyle MallikaField
Mallika, who sponsored the new law, is a democrat and works as a nurse in the emergency department in the Denver area.
Colorado is one of the first states to change their laws to allow him to recommend vaccines based on sources other than CDC. The State Health Council can now also consult with leading medical groups, such as American Academy of PediatricsIN American Academy of Family DoctorsAnd American college of obstetricians and gynecologistsField
“We decided to protect Colorado,” said Mallika, so “it would not be so vulnerable to political upheavals that we see right now.”
The legislative body under the leadership of the Democratic Party adopted the bill with an almost linear vote. The policy signed this in April, despite Praising The choice of Kennedy last fall.
“Colorado, I think, really leads on this,” said David HigginsA pediatrician at the University of Colorado, which was part of a group of interested parties, which helped create a bill.
Higgins pointed to Companion BillSigned in May, which, according to him, makes the push Colorado even more. He is engaged in insurance coating for preventive medical services aimed at ensuring state insurance plans to cover the cost of some vaccines, regardless of future CDC steps.
“In fact, this is intended to make sure that Coloradans will still have access to vaccines,” he said.
The Colorado Chairman of the Defense of Children in the field of healthcare, the anti-Waccine lawyer group, which Kennedy headed before capturing HHS, did not respond to a request for comments.
Another co -author of the first bill, a democratic state Member of the House of Representatives of Lindsay GilcristHe said that the circulation of so many false information about vaccines, including Covid, makes it important to hear from a number of trusted medical experts.
Colorado previously addressed the CDC for the scientific leadership for vaccines, especially for children entering school. As in other states, he tracked the recommendations of the CDC group, known as the consultative committee on the practice of immunization.
Kennedy fired All 17 members in June replaced them with 12 new appointments, some of which critics warn that they are skeptics of the vaccine and are not qualified to provide critical guidelines for Americans.
“I think where the confusion will lie, is the difference in the recommendations between ACIP, from which we traditionally delay, and then all the others,” said Ned Kalonge, chief medical director of Colorado.
He expects that the national groups of professional doctors who are currently authorizing to consult with Colorado will most likely be leveled in their general leadership and “consider the latest recommendations based on the actual data that was provided by ACIP” before Kennedy replaced his members.
In May, Kennedy announced The federal government removed the prominent vaccines from the list of shots recommended for healthy pregnant women and children.
But Colorado still recommends a good vaccine during pregnancy, Kalong said.
“There was no new security evidence in this population.” Calonge saidThe field “So, we tell the suppliers that our recommendation is to continue to follow the recommendations, as it was in January 2025.”
IN statement On your web, the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists strongly recommended pregnant women vaccinated against Covid. “ACOG continues to recommend that all pregnant and nursing people receive an updated vaccine or“ booster ”Covid-19,” he said.
Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended in August That all children aged 6 to 23 months are vaccinated against Covid, as well as older children in certain risk groups.
At the moment, Colorado is monitored by the same recommendations of the immunization that he used last year.
The latest collection of ACIP, September 18 and 19, was chaoticWith the members, admitting, they did not understand why they voted, and even decided to redo the voting to access to vaccines in the Pediatrics of MMRV. The next ACIP collection is planned to be held on October 22 and 23 and can lead to additional changes in the recommendations of the vaccine.
Doctors and scientists -vaccines expressed an alarm against the national consensus against vaccines.
“Now among the public there will be much more confusion and distrust of vaccines,” said Ellison CampaA professor of pediatrics at the Medical School of the University of Colorado, who worked at ACIP from 2013 to 2018.
Nevertheless, she said that she was glad that Colorado moves forward with her own recommendations.
This article is taken from a partnership that includes Colorado public radioIN NPRAnd KFF Health News.
