Washington, D.C. — A new report from the Center for American Progress details how states can take steps to safeguard vaccine access as the Trump administration undermines the nation’s immunization system and fuels confusion among providers, insurers, and families.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions—firing experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rolling back vaccine recommendations, and elevating vaccine skeptics—are already weakening public confidence and jeopardizing access to routine childhood and adult vaccines.
“As the federal government walks away from its responsibility to protect Americans, states must act,” said Jill Rosenthal, director of Public Health Policy at CAP and author of the report. “State leaders can bolster access and support evidence-based decision-making to protect their residents from the resurgence of deadly diseases such as measles. With federal public health infrastructure crumbling, states are now the last line of defense.”
The report highlights six key actions states can take immediately:
- Align state policy with leading scientific and medical guidance.
- Expand who can administer vaccines, including through standing orders.
- Require insurers to cover state-recommended vaccines at no cost.
- Protect providers who follow evidence-based recommendations.
- Form interstate alliances to coordinate guidance and emergency response.
- Explore joint vaccine purchasing to stabilize supply.
Several states in the West Coast Health Alliance, Northeast Public Health Collaborative, and beyond have already begun taking steps to preserve access as federal systems erode.
Read the full report: “6 Ways States Can Protect Vaccine Access While the Trump Administration Dismantles the Federal System” by Jill Rosenthal
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Christian Unkenholz at [email protected].