Colorado Codifies State Vaccine Authority Amid Federal Changes
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Colorado has enacted a law allowing state health officials to follow national medical group recommendations, rather than new federal guidance, for vaccine decisions like bulk Medicaid purchases. The move, part of a broader state effort to maintain immunization standards, comes after federal changes removed six pediatric shots from the universal recommendation list and as childhood vaccination rates in the state remain below herd immunity thresholds for measles.
Facts First
- Colorado law allows state to follow national medical groups for vaccine decisions, bypassing new federal guidance.
- The law also expands pharmacists' authority to prescribe and administer vaccines and increases legal protections for healthcare workers.
- Colorado is among 29 states and D.C. that have taken steps to bypass the new federal vaccine recommendations.
- A federal advisory panel removed six pediatric immunizations from the universal recommendation list in January.
- Measles vaccination rates in Colorado kindergartens are at 88%, below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
What Happened
Governor Jared Polis (D) signed a law passed by the Colorado state legislature that allows the state to follow recommendations from national medical groups for decisions such as purchasing bulk vaccines for the Medicaid program instead of following federal guidance. The law also codifies the ability of pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccines and increases legal protections for healthcare workers who administer vaccines. This action makes Colorado one of 29 states and the District of Columbia that have taken steps to bypass new federal vaccine recommendations. In January, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel selected by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. removed six pediatric immunizations from the universal recommendation list.
Why this Matters to You
If you or your family rely on Medicaid in Colorado, the state's new authority could affect which vaccines are readily available. The law's expansion of pharmacists' roles may make it easier for you to get vaccinated at a local pharmacy. The state's vaccination rates suggest your community may be more vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, which saw more than a dozen cases in Colorado in early 2026. Lower vaccination rates for flu and COVID-19 could also mean a higher risk of illness in your community.
What's Next
The outreach and advocacy coalition Colorado Chooses Vaccines will continue its work to provide a unified voice on vaccine benefits and assist residents confused by federal changes. The legal landscape remains in flux, as a federal judge placed a hold on many of the changes to the federal vaccine schedule in March. Colorado's independent public health stance—which includes joining the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Outbreak and Response Network and participating in a multi-state lawsuit over the childhood vaccine schedule—is likely to continue shaping its immunization policies.