Vaccine Policy

Legislation signed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) would de-couple the state from following the recommendations of a federal vaccine advisory panel that was remade by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Vax Act, signed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) Tuesday, directs the state’s health secretary to issue official recommendations for immunizations, screening and preventive services, rather than relying on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immu

Gov. Wes Moore wants state-level guidance to bigfoot the new federal vaccine recommendations, which do not universally include flu and other infectious diseases. Moore said Thursday he intends to seek state legislation during the upcoming General Assembly session that would give Maryland’s health secretary more authority over vaccine guidance that is used by parents, doctors and insurers who pay for the shots. Read more at the Baltimore Banner .

Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17. Jim O'Neill, acting director for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, has updated the agency's immunization schedule to reflect the changes, effective immediately, officials said at a news briefing. Read more at the .