Mass. health officials recommend COVID-19 vaccine for all adults ahead of federal guidance

Massachusetts population strength authorities distributed vaccine guidance for the next year that recommends young children and all adults receive the COVID- shot a decision Gov Maura Healey argued rebuffs efforts to curtail access to vaccinations at the federal level State vitality executives disclosed the guidance just before a federal commission was scheduled to vote on national vaccine recommendations and as the former head of the Centers for Syndrome Control and Prevention was testifying in Washington on Wellbeing Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr s decision to fire her In a announcement Wednesday morning Healey commented her administration was not going to let President Donald Trump and Kennedy take away your ability to make your own wellness care decisions Massachusetts will continue to lead with science and protect access to life-saving vaccines We are taking this action in contemporary times so the people of Massachusetts know that you will continue to be able to get the vaccines you want and need no matter what happens at the federal level Healey commented The state vaccine guidance recommends that children aged six to months all adults people at higher threat for disorder or exposure those who are pregnant or lactating and those who are immunocompromised receive the COVID- vaccine Massachusetts Society Soundness Commissioner Robbie Goldstein mentioned vaccines remain the the majority effective inhabitants fitness intervention of the past century they have saved millions of lives Massachusetts has never backed away from doing what is hard when it is also right Goldstein disclosed in a message In the current era we are protecting our residents by providing recommendations for COVID vaccinations that are grounded in evidence and science driven by equity and shaped by the lived experiences of our communities The guidance comes as vaccine policies have become a flashpoint issue in national politics Kennedy long characterized as a vaccine skeptic has sought to rework vaccine policies in the United States to match up with his suspicions about the safety and effectiveness of shots that have been regularly administered to residents In the wake of Kennedy s appointment to the top soundness post in the country Healey has positioned Massachusetts as a Democratic bulwark against vaccine decisions she and her top lieutenants disagree with In a first-in-the-nation move earlier this month Healey directed her administration to issue a bulletin requiring insurance carriers in the state to continue to cover vaccines recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Society Vitality and not rely solely on CDC recommendations Healey argued the move ensured residents in the Bay State would be able to afford vaccines even if the federal authorities issued narrower recommendations The first-term Democrat also directed state population physical condition personnel to allow pharmacies to continue providing COVID- vaccines to locals aged five and older regardless of federal actions That came after Healey filed a bill attempting to decouple state vaccine requirements from federal standards The vaccine guidance in Massachusetts was issued a day before the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was scheduled to start meeting to discuss recommendations on shots against COVID- hepatitis B and chickenpox It is still unclear how members of the committee plan to vote on the recommendations though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID- recommendations should be more restricted While testifying in Washington Wednesday morning former CDC Director Susan Monarez accused Kennedy of firing her for refusing to endorse the upcoming vaccine recommendations without reviewing scientific evidence to advocacy the guidance She accused Kennedy of handing her an ultimatum preapprove the new vaccine recommendations or be fired Kennedy also allegedly demanded Monarez fire high-ranking CDC executives without cause He commented if I was unwilling to do both I should resign I responded that I could not preapprove recommendations without reviewing the evidence and I had no basis for firing Monarez noted during a hearing before a U S Senate Committee He stated he had already spoken with the White House several times Healey explained she hopes the advisory committee adopts recommendations that align with the evidence-based approach we are taking This is a defining moment when populace soundness must step forward and stand firmly with the communities we serve No matter what happens we will continue to take every step we can to follow science and protect robustness care access in Massachusetts Healey reported This is a growing story Materials from the Associated Press were used in this analysis