"For decades, states have followed the lead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on which vaccines Americans should get, and when they should get them. Now, rejecting the antivaccine stance of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an increasing number of states say they will rely instead on their own public health experts and professional medical organizations for that advice."
"Previously, the FDA recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine booster be available to anyone 6 months or older. But in August, the federal agency said the booster shot should be limited to two specific groups: people who are 65 and older, and anyone who is at least six 6 months old and has an underlying health condition, such as asthma or obesity, that increases the risk of a COVID-19 infection becoming severe."
"Under the new guidelines, children under 18 without an underlying condition can only get the shot if a health care provider is consulted first, meaning parents can't simply take their kids to a vaccination clinic or pharmacy."
Seventeen states have issued orders to broaden access to the COVID-19 vaccine after the federal government narrowed booster eligibility in August. The affected states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin; all but Virginia have Democratic governors. The federal change limited boosters to people 65 and older and those six months or older with specified underlying conditions. States rejecting that restriction cite concerns about federal antivaccine influence and plan to rely on state public health experts and medical organizations. New rules also require provider consultation for children under 18 without underlying conditions.
Read at Truthout
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