Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Issues Evidence-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance to Ensure Access for Residents

Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today released COVID-19 vaccine guidance for 2025-2026, protecting access for residents in Massachusetts and reaffirming the state’s commitment to science, equity, and public health leadership.

The guidance recommends children ages six to 23 months, and all adults receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as those at higher risk for disease or exposure, those who are pregnant or lactating, and those who are immunocompromised. The guidance also reflects a consensus statement from the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a group of state public health agencies across the region that share information and ideas about public health issues, including vaccination. 

The administration is issuing this guidance prior to the scheduled meeting of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Thursday and Friday of this week to review data and vote on national vaccine recommendations.

“We are not going to let Donald Trump or Robert Kennedy take away your ability to make your own health care decisions,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts will continue to lead with science and protect access to life-saving vaccines. We are taking this action today so the people of Massachusetts know that you will continue to be able to get the vaccines you want and need – no matter what happens at the federal level.”

“Vaccines remain the most effective public health intervention of the past century – they have saved millions of lives,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts has never backed away from doing what is hard when it is also right. Today, we are protecting our residents by providing recommendations for COVID vaccinations that are grounded in evidence and science, driven by equity, and shaped by the lived experiences of our communities.” 

This guidance is based on an extensive review of current scientific data and aligns with professional society recommendations, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet September 18-19 to review data and vote on national vaccine recommendations. Massachusetts is announcing its 2025-2026 guidance now – before ACIP issues its recommendations and before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finalizes their recommendations – to provide residents in Massachusetts with the best available science and the guidance of leading medical organizations.

In the past few weeks, several steps have been ordered by Governor Healey to ensure that vaccines remain available to Massachusetts residents of all ages, while President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. restrict access to vaccines and make cuts to public health across the country. 

Commissioner Goldstein signed a standing order authorizing pharmacists to vaccinate all eligible individuals who want to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Also, the Division of Insurance and DPH issued a bulletin requiring insurers to cover the cost of recommended vaccines for their members. In addition, the Board of Registration in Pharmacy met to authorize pharmacists to administer any vaccine recommended by the Commissioner, regardless of federal actions. Massachusetts is also part of a public health collaboration with states in New England and across the Northeast committed to safeguarding public health as the federal government backs away from its responsibilities.

“We urge ACIP to adopt recommendations that align with the evidence-based approach we are taking,” said Governor Healey. “This is a defining moment when public health must step forward and stand firmly with the communities we serve. No matter what happens, we will continue to take every step we can to follow science and protect health care access in Massachusetts.”

2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance 
Adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative

High-risk conditions include chronic pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, metabolic disorders (including diabetes and obesity), hematologic disease, neurologic conditions, immunosuppressive conditions, rheumatologic disease, and other serious underlying medical conditions. 
 

The full Massachusetts 2025-2026 vaccine guidance and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative’s consensus statement are available at mass.gov/VaccineGuidance.
 

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