SENATE TO PRESERVE CONNECTICUT’S CURRENT VACCINE STANDARDS

Amid frequent changes to federal vaccine policy, the Connecticut State Senate today will pass legislation preserving a standard of care for immunization and protecting state public health infrastructure from federal rollbacks on common health policies.

House Bill 5044, “An Act Establishing Connecticut Vaccine Standards,” establishes a standard of care for immunization specific to the state. In effect, its change is simple: as vaccine access is often tied to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the state’s standard will also incorporate recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

That will effectively allow the state to retain its current vaccination standards amid increased scrutiny on the behaviors and practices of the CDC’s ACIP Committee. In June 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy removed all 17 sitting members of the ACIP and replaced them with new members, at least several of which have been directly tied to vaccine skepticism. Since then, the body has already attempted to remove vaccines from standard schedules, among other actions casting doubt on its dedication to the practice.

The legislation additionally creates a Vaccines for Adults program, which will provide free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults ages 19+ through free clinics, municipal health departments and other eligible providers. That allows the state increased supply chain flexibility as its current program is tied to the ACIP; expanding that will support the state’s access and care for members of the public accordingly.

Further changes the bill makes include allowing the Public Health Commissioner to develop respiratory virus vaccine requirements in nursing homes, which already allow non-medical exemptions. Schools, higher education, child care centers and family care homes, among other agencies, will retain current requirements.

The legislation also clarifies what the legislature intended in removing the non-medical exemption from vaccination in 2021, ensuring there are no such exemptions in schools, childcare and college.

With about 495,000 schoolchildren currently attending Connecticut schools, the legislation preserves the existing status quo and keeps children safe from preventable illnesses. Connecticut currently has a best-in-the-nation vaccination rate of 98.2%. Just .02% of Connecticut students have non-medical exemptions compared to 3.4% nationally.

The legislation also requires individual and group health insurance policies to cover immunizations on the standard of care and allows pharmacists to administer any vaccine on Connecticut’s own immunization schedule, preserving and expanding access to vaccinations regardless of federal action.

With today’s Senate passage, after the House passed the bill on April 21 by an 89-60 tally, the bill will head to Governor Lamont’s desk for final signature.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193