States Take Charge of COVID Vaccine Policies | JQJO

Facing concerns over federal vaccine policy changes, including staffing cuts and altered advisory committees, several states are taking independent action. New York declared a state of emergency to maintain vaccine access, while Massachusetts will fund vaccines beyond CDC recommendations. Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii formed a West Coast alliance to coordinate their strategies, mirroring similar efforts in the Northeast. These actions are driven by a lack of federal coordination, FDA restrictions on eligibility, and distrust in the CDC's advisory committee. States like New Mexico are proactively ensuring vaccine accessibility, while Florida opposes mandates, highlighting a growing divergence in state-level vaccine policies.