In a direct response to the Trump administration’s evolving health policies, New York, alongside several other Northeastern states, is establishing a new regional public health coalition. This alliance aims to standardize vaccine recommendations and streamline public health initiatives across the region.
Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed New York’s participation in this crucial endeavor early Thursday.
In a released statement, Governor Hochul emphasized, ‘By uniting with our Northeastern partners, we guarantee that New Yorkers receive the necessary protection and accurate information to remain safe and healthy.’
This initiative mirrors the recently formed West Coast Health Alliance, a group of four Democratic-led Western states, including California, which also released its own distinct vaccine guidelines this week.
Both the Western and Northeastern coalitions are a direct response to a perceived retreat by federal public health institutions. Their goal is to bolster public health measures and provide official state-level endorsements for vaccines.
Operating similarly to its Western counterpart, the Northeast Public Health Collaborative is committed to promoting widespread vaccination. This focus comes amidst a wide-ranging campaign against vaccines by federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Recently, the federal government has even canceled significant contracts for vaccine research and development and restricted access to updated coronavirus vaccines.
On Thursday, Governor Hochul announced that the collaborative states have collectively agreed to issue specific recommendations for the latest coronavirus vaccines. These guidelines suggest vaccination for infants and toddlers aged 6 to 23 months, as well as all adults over 19. Additionally, healthy children over two years old and adolescents are advised to receive the vaccine, with vaccination strongly recommended for any child with pre-existing health conditions.
Governor Hochul declared, ‘While Washington persists in its misdirected attacks on scientific principles, New York is firmly committed to ensuring every resident has access to the Covid vaccine and the essential healthcare services they depend on.’
These new state recommendations notably diverge from federal guidance. Just last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated coronavirus vaccines exclusively for individuals aged 65 and above, and for younger individuals with specific underlying health conditions that elevate Covid-19 risks. The FDA explicitly did not authorize these vaccines for healthy adults under 65. In response, several state officials, including Governor Hochul, enacted executive orders to empower pharmacists to administer the latest coronavirus vaccines to a broader public.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative comprises New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and notably, New York City, which boasts the nation’s largest municipal health department.
Officials confirmed that planning for this Northeastern collaborative has been ongoing for some time. Last month, representatives from various state health departments converged in Rhode Island to finalize details. The initiative has already established working groups dedicated to key areas such as vaccine recommendations, comprehensive data collection, and enhancing laboratory capabilities.
This new effort, officials explained, leverages existing interstate public health collaborations, including a well-established network of New England public health laboratories whose directors have regularly convened for decades to address and resolve challenges.
Members of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative plan to coordinate public health preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup and enhance collaboration on state laboratory services. Additionally, preliminary talks have begun regarding the joint procurement of vaccines.
Over the past year, New York State’s health department has consistently published a weekly report detailing global disease outbreaks. This relatively modest state initiative gains significance as federal disease surveillance efforts, particularly at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appear to be diminishing.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.