Colorado Charts Its Own Course on Vaccines Amid Federal Pullback

In response to abrupt and politicized changes to federal vaccine policy , concerned Coloradans have taken several steps to shore up support for vaccine science. This article is from a partnership that includes Colorado Public Radio , NPR and KFF Health News.

It can be republished for free . A bill passed by the state legislature in March then signed into law by Democratic Gov.

Jared Polis allows Colorado to further uncouple itself from federal guidance. The law allows health officials to follow the recommendations of national medical groups when making decisions such as purchasing bulk vaccines for the Medicaid program.

“We are insulating our state from the dysfunction coming out of Washington,” said Democratic state Sen. Kyle Mullica , a co-sponsor of the bill and a registered nurse.

“We’re going to rely on science.” “From fighting during the pandemic for Coloradans to get vaccines as quickly as possible to combating the Trump Administration’s barriers to getting vaccinated, we have expanded access to vaccines for Coloradans who want them,” Polis said in a statement when he signed the law.