Democratic States Form Alliance to Bypass Federal Vaccine Mandates

Several Democratic-led states are forming coalitions to create independent COVID-19 vaccine policies in opposition to the Trump administration's directives under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has curtailed vaccine authorizations. The West Coast Health Alliance, comprising California, Oregon, and Washington, along with a similar movement in the Northeast, aims to ensure vaccine availability and guidance based on scientific data rather than federal mandates. States including New York, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Illinois are taking steps such as authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccines broadly, requiring insurers to cover state-recommended vaccines, and planning bulk purchases. These actions contrast sharply with Florida's Republican leadership, where Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have banned all vaccine mandates, framing them as violations of individual rights. The varying state responses highlight growing tensions over vaccine policy amid changes at the Department of Health and Human Services, with many Democrats criticizing the federal approach as politicized and undermining public health, while Florida promotes medical freedom. The dismissal of all CDC vaccine advisory panel experts and calls from former and current HHS employees for Kennedy's resignation underscore the contentious national debate on vaccine governance.