Tell NJ Lawmakers: Oppose the Push to Give NJ DOH Vaccine Policy Power

The New Jersey Assembly is currently considering A6166, a bill that would shift vaccine policy guidance from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). This would give sweeping new power to NJDOH, authorizing the department to set immunization policy as well as medical exemption criteria without input from New Jersey’s citizens through legislative hearings, votes, or public scrutiny.

A6166, and its sister Senate bill S4894 which was passed three days before Christmas, grant crucial healthcare decision-making to the NJDOH in collaboration with the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a regional coalition that develops “interjurisdictional” policies on vaccines, surveillance, laboratory testing, emergency response, and more–all behind closed doors. This would be a fundamental shift, rebuilding the entire framework of immunization authority across New Jersey. The proposed structure would allow the DOH to adopt regional policy recommendations from multi-state entities outside of New Jersey’s public records laws and democratic oversight.

New Jersey’s parents, students, schools and medical professionals deserve transparency and accountability before such a drastic overhaul of the current system can be legislated and implemented.

Please tell the members of the New Jersey Assembly to oppose A6166 until the critical issues of transparency, accountability, and meaningful public oversight are addressed.