House Democrats introduce bill to ensure Pa. vaccine access
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House Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation that aims to maintain vaccine access for Pennsylvanians amid recent federal policy changes.
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved COVID-19 vaccines for people 65 and older, as well as individuals ages 5 to 64 with underlying conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID.
Previously, COVID-19 vaccines had been recommended for anyone, based on guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. However, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all members of that panel. The current members have not handed down new recommendations.
The FDA move came the same day as the ouster of Dr. Susan Monarez, who had been appointed by President Donald Trump and served roughly a month as head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monarez's dismissal was reportedly linked to clashes with Kennedy over vaccine safety and efficacy.
The FDA decision means Medicare will cover the vaccine cost for seniors, though the agency's recommendation could mean that younger, healthy people would need to pay about $150 for their COVID-19 vaccinations.
House Bill 1828 would require private insurers to cover the cost of any vaccines approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Lawmakers said the legislation would allow state officials to "draw upon the expertise of professional medical societies" in determining which vaccines to approve.
"We have seen the firing of all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and their replacement with several anti-vaccine activists. We have also seen the firing and resignation of the entire leadership of the CDC due to their unwillingness to support anti-vaccine policies," said Rep. Arvind Venkat,
D-Allegheny, an emergency room physician. "This is a major issue we are already seeing the consequences of with the recent measles outbreak across the country and the non-evidence-based restrictions on access to COVID immunizations."