Several Northeast states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, announced a new regional partnership on Thursday meant to pool resources and expertise on public health.
The group, called the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, will share information about emergency preparedness, infectious diseases, vaccine recommendations and other topics, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Northeast Public Health Collaborative to improve information sharing, coordinate on public health initiatives, and develop policy that is grounded in science and data,” state Health Director Dr. Jerry Larkin said in a joint NPHC statement. “This partnership will advance our work to prevent disease and promote the health and safety of the people in every community in Rhode Island.”
The collaboration includes health departments from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York State and New York City.
The formation of the group comes amid continued uncertainty at the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Across the country, states are creating their own vaccine policies. Oregon, Washington, California and Hawaii formed the West Coast Health Alliance early this month.
In August, the federal government reversed its previous guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead of a rule saying anyone 6 months and older could get the vaccine, new federal guidance says only people over 65 years old, or those who have an underlying health condition, can get the vaccine.
Since then, several states have issued their own guidelines on who should get the COVID vaccine. Splitting from the federal guidance, both Rhode Island and Massachusetts health authorities recommend that most people over 6 months of age should get vaccinated this year.
Information from Connecticut Public’s Michayla Savitt was used in this report.
