Ten Northeastern states have formed a powerful new alliance, the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, to strengthen their collective response to public health challenges. This unprecedented collaboration, announced Thursday, unites New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Vermont in a unified front against health threats. The initiative marks a significant departure from reliance on federal guidance, particularly in the wake of recent turmoil at the CDC and HHS under the Trump administration.
The collaborative will focus on key areas including coordinated vaccine recommendations, streamlined data collection, and enhanced emergency preparedness. Their first recommendations, released alongside the announcement, directly counter recent CDC guideline changes under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These recommendations uphold the consensus of national medical organizations such as the AAP, AAFP, and ACOG, advocating for COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to 2 years and pregnant women, while recommending a risk assessment approach for children aged 2 to 18.
New Hampshire's absence from the collaborative is notable. While Massachusetts officials confirmed ongoing communication with New Hampshire counterparts, the state's reasons for not joining remain unclear. This omission raises questions about the future collaboration and potential inconsistencies in public health strategies across the region.
The creation of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative follows a similar development on the West Coast, where California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii have established the West Coast Health Alliance. Both alliances underscore concerns over the federal government's recent actions impacting the CDC, highlighting the growing need for states to take proactive measures to safeguard their citizens' health and well-being.
The formation of these regional alliances is not without its critics. Some public health experts, like former CDC chief medical officer Dr. Debra Houry, express concerns about potential fragmentation of public health efforts and the creation of inequities in access to vital services. The concern over 'medical tourism' between states with differing public health guidelines highlights the potential logistical and social challenges of this new approach.
Despite such concerns, participating states are celebrating this development as a vital step towards creating more resilient and effective public health systems. This collaboration aims to ensure smoother responses to outbreaks and large-scale events, leveraging the collective resources and expertise of the region. The Northeast Public Health Collaborative represents a significant shift in how states approach public health and promises to shape the future of healthcare in the region.
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Originally published at: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/09/18/health-officials-from-10-northeast-states-officially-band-together-new-hampshire-remains-out/
