MaineMaine vaccine board can request state vaccine funding for children
Maine’s vaccine program board can seek state money for recommended vaccines for children who qualify for the federal Vaccines for Children Program, with lawmakers’ approval.
What it does
Maine’s vaccine program board can request state money for recommended vaccines for children eligible for federal vaccine assistance. Lawmakers must approve the funding through the state budget.
Qualified Maine pharmacists have protection from lawsuits claiming careless conduct for giving vaccines outside federal advisory guidelines, if they follow state guidelines or those of named medical groups.
The vaccine program board must consider recommendations from named medical groups. These must protect and strengthen routine vaccine access and rest on scientific evidence without weakening or replacing federal vaccine standards.
Argument forIf lawmakers approve funding, state payments could help eligible children receive vaccines recommended by state health officials or the medical groups named in the law.
Argument againstPatients could have fewer grounds to challenge a pharmacist’s vaccine choice in court when it follows state guidelines but falls outside federal recommendations.
More detail
Maine’s vaccine program board may ask the State to pay for recommended vaccines for eligible children. Children must qualify for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccines for Children Program. Vaccines must be recommended by the state health department or the medical groups named in the law, under its vaccine selection rules. Lawmakers must approve funding through the two-year budget process; the law does not guarantee payment. The board must notify the Legislature’s health and human services committee when it submits its request to the State Budget Officer.
The law protects qualified pharmacists from lawsuits claiming negligence, or careless conduct, for giving certain vaccines outside federal advisory guidelines. The protection covers Maine-licensed pharmacists giving vaccines outside guidelines from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or its successor. The pharmacist must meet the vaccination qualifications and requirements referenced in the law and licensing board rules. The vaccination must follow guidelines from the State, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including successor groups.
The vaccine program board must consider recommendations from the medical groups named in the law when choosing vaccines. The groups are the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including successor groups. Those recommendations must preserve and strengthen routine vaccine access, rely on evidence from scientific and public health experts, and not weaken or replace federal evidence-based immunization standards. Each year, the board chooses vaccines by January 1 for the program year beginning July 1. It must also review new vaccines and update the list promptly.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 13Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table.
- Apr 6On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
- Apr 6Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 6PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Apr 2In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 2The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-611).Minor
- Apr 2Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (S-611) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 2The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 2(Yeas 86 - Nays 58 - Absent 6 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 2ROLL CALL NO. 725
- Apr 2On motion of Representative MATHIESON of Kittery, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Apr 2Reports READ.
- Apr 2Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 2Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-611)Minor
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (S-611) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 2READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 2Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 842 Yeas 23 - Nays 10 - Excused 2 - Absent 0
- Apr 2On motion by Senator BAILEY of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED.
- Apr 2Reports READ.
- Apr 1Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Feb 17Voted - Divided Report
- Feb 17Work Session Held
- Jan 7In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jan 7The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.Minor
- Jan 7On motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York REFERENCE to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.
- Jan 7Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES suggested and ordered printed.Introduced
Healthcare