Vermont Shields Pre-2025 Vaccine Schedule, Holding MMR and Polio Coverage at 90%
Updated
Updated · VTDigger · May 18
Vermont Shields Pre-2025 Vaccine Schedule, Holding MMR and Polio Coverage at 90%
1 articles · Updated · VTDigger · May 18
March legislation signed by Gov. Phil Scott lets Vermont buy vaccines outside the CDC and requires insurers to cover them, insulating the state from federal vaccine-policy changes under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Those federal shifts have already reached clinics: pediatricians report more parents delaying, customizing or refusing shots as CDC guidance scaled back some childhood recommendations and loosened Covid advice.
80% of Vermont infants received Hepatitis B vaccination within three days of birth in 2025, down from about 86% in 2021-2024 after the CDC dropped its birth-dose recommendation in December.
90% of Vermont 2-year-olds were vaccinated for polio and MMR in December 2025, keeping overall coverage high even as doctors say vaccine counseling has risen from occasional sessions to near-daily work.
Fee-for-service billing has made those longer counseling visits harder to absorb financially, leaving pediatricians to balance rising hesitancy, patient pushback over charges and already packed appointments.
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Vermont’s Proactive Response to Federal Vaccine Policy Changes: Safeguarding Childhood Immunization Rates in 2025-2026
Overview
In 2025, after federal officials scaled back the CDC’s childhood vaccine schedule to align with international standards and promote informed consent, Vermont responded quickly by protecting its own, more comprehensive vaccine requirements for school and child care entry. While many states considered loosening their rules, Vermont’s proactive stance ensured continued protection against preventable diseases. This decision, rooted in a desire to safeguard public health and maintain trust, highlights Vermont’s commitment to strong immunization standards even as national policies shifted. Vermont’s approach demonstrates how state leadership can uphold robust public health measures despite changing federal guidance.