Public health advocates are hoping Maryland’s participation in the newly formed Northeast Public Health Collaborative will help bring clarity to ongoing “confusion” around vaccine recommendations under the Trump administration — but how well that group messaging works is yet to be seen.
“Time will tell – I hope it clarifies,” said Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition. “I hope that a group of experts advises this coalition of states so that what they put out is trustworthy. Vaccines are critical for public health and we think it’s absolutely critical that everybody be able to get a vaccine if they want it.”
Maryland has joined a newly formed coalition of states trying to counter the Trump administration’s effort to restrict certain vaccine use — challenging longstanding public health wisdom that vaccinations are safe and effective.
The Maryland Department of Health announced its participation in the cohort of states last week. Other states involved in the collaborative include Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. New York City is also a major player.
The state health department also released a set of vaccine recommendations for various respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV.
“These actions follow recent federal changes made to increase confusion and undermine proven public health protective measures,” the department said in a written statement Friday.
In recent months, federal health agencies operating under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have limited recommendations on who should receive certain vaccinations – going against the guidance of many medical societies.
Public health advocates say the administration has contributed to a climate of confusion around vaccinations, and report that patients are not sure who to trust.
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative hopes to counter that confusion by developing vaccine recommendations and other public health guidelines. But it’s not clear yet if the collaborative’s messaging will cut through the noise or add to it.
Gene Ransom, CEO for MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, thinks Maryland’s participation in the group is an imperfect step in the right direction.
“We think it’s a good idea,” he said. “Vaccines should be based on science. Is it a perfect solution? No, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Matthew Celentano, executive director of the League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland said it’s “too early to tell” if the collaborative’s effort will be effective in countering the Trump administration’s messaging. But he agrees the effort is worth pursuing.
“They (the collaborative) want to replicate the public health work that’s been done for generations in the United States — and not bend to the will of political posturing that seems to be happening in the public health world right now,” he said. “If that leads to improved Marylanders’ health — that’s worth engaging in.”
In addition to joining the collaborative, the Maryland Department of Health has also released 2025-26 guidance for the flu, RSV and COVID-19.
Those recommendations largely reflect guidance from major medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Maryland’s COVID-19 recommendations also reflect guidance issued by the Northeast Public Health Collaborative last week as well. The group has not released guidance on RSV or the flu.
Essentially, Maryland’s recommendations suggest that most everyone get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu. The COVID-19 vaccine recommendation is “especially important” for those 65 years old or older and those who are at increased risk of severe infection.
Meanwhile, the RSV vaccine is recommended for those aged 75 and older or those aged 50 and older who are at an increased risk of severe disease.
Before the state joined the collaborative, Gov. Wes Moore (D) assured Marylanders that access to vaccinations would be protected in the state for the time being. In May, he signed legislation that required insurers to cover vaccinations that had been recommended by federal health officials as of December 2024, avoiding any change to coverage based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). That law took effect June 1.
“The Maryland Department of Health is focused on using evidence-based science to make decisions that best serve the people of our state,” state Health Secretary Meena Seshamani said in a written statement. “Research continues to show that vaccines are an effective way to keep our communities healthy. We encourage everyone to talk with a health care provider who can help assess your personal health care needs and determine if a vaccine is right for you.”
