While the federal HHS’s announcement today continues to sow confusion among patients and providers alike, New Jersey is taking action to provide equitable access to vaccines, achieve community protection, and build sustained trust in vaccination.

Vaccines are, unequivocally, our most effective defense against vaccine-preventable illnesses. For decades, the immunization schedule in the United States has played a significant role in turning diseases that once destroyed or claimed countless lives into preventable illnesses. Federal efforts to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for all children in the United States are not supported by the available data nor the consensus of public health and medical experts. Instead, deterring participation in vaccination risks leaving children vulnerable to serious and preventable infections.

Public health must always consider local context. Unlike countries that have more tools to prevent and treat these highly-transmissible diseases, such as universal health care systems and different primary care access models, the U.S. health system relies heavily on vaccination to prevent avoidable illness, hospitalization, and long-term complications.

In New Jersey, vaccines remain covered by insurance and available through the Vaccines for Children program. New Jersey’s minimum requirements for school and child care attendance are outlined in the Immunization of Pupils in School rules, New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4), and remain unchanged by federal actions to date.

The New Jersey Department of Health will continue its commitment to protecting the health of children, families, and communities across the state through evidence-based recommendations. Our public health guidance and vaccine policies will remain grounded in the best available science and centered on access. We remain committed to supporting families in making informed decisions to keep their loved ones healthy and safe.