Connecticut Democrats are claiming a firm grip on state vaccine guidelines in the face of what they consider to be regressive policies from RFK, Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Their controversial new vaccine bill passed the state House on Tuesday, 89-60, with a dozen Democrats joining all Republicans in voting against it.
Pending Senate approval, the bill would empower the state Public Health commissioner to set the recommended vaccine schedule for adults, countering weakening standards from the Centers for Disease control, where RFK, a longtime vaccine opponent, has dismissed medical experts in favor of loyalists.
Republicans say the bill gives the commissioner too much power. Republican state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria said, “So, the answer from the majority here today is to hand our own Department of Public Health commissioner that same kind of unchecked authority that we don’t want to happen down in D.C.”
Democratic state Rep. Cristin McCarthy-Vahey confirmed that new powers for the commissioner are necessary to counter overreach by Secretary Kennedy, saying, “Yes, unfortunately, the changes at the federal level have necessitated parts of this.”
Republicans like state Rep. Tracy Marra insist the state shouldn’t run away from shifting federal guidelines, saying, “I hope that we don’t just turn against the FDA, the CDC, all because we think maybe they’re not doing things perfectly right now.”
McCarthy-Vahey says it’s a lot more than “not doing things perfectly.” She believes operations at the federal level under Kennedy are much worse than Republicans will admit.
“I very much wish that we could continue to rely on those federal standards, but at this point, we are going to make sure that in Connecticut, we are continuing to go with those tried and true, safe, effective and evidence-based and rigorously studied” guidelines.
The Democratic bill also requires that health insurance plans pay for all state-recommended shots.
The bill also clarifies that a state law protecting religious freedom does not apply to vaccine requirements. Republicans believe religious exemptions from vaccine mandates should be valid.
“If we can suspend religious liberty protections for vaccines here today,” said Klarides-Ditria, “what rights are we gonna carve out for tomorrow?”
