Multiple US States Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Access Amid Federal Restrictions

Several states, including Colorado, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, are taking steps to maintain and expand access to COVID-19 vaccines amid federal restrictions imposed by the Trump administration and CDC head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Colorado issued a public health order allowing residents aged 6 months and older to receive COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription, countering the FDA's August restrictions limiting vaccines to at-risk groups and those 65 or older. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have similarly enacted standing orders and updated pharmacy guidelines to allow pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters to children and adults, aiming to preserve vaccine availability despite federal guidance that limits recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. Governors in these states criticized the federal government's inconsistent and politicized approach, emphasizing the importance of personal choice and broad vaccine access. The FDA also revoked emergency use authorization for Pfizer's vaccine in children under 5, further complicating access. These state actions reflect a coordinated effort to ensure public access to COVID-19 vaccines despite federal changes and uncertainty.