MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #275, directing the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to use every lever and take every action available to ensure Wisconsinites can access safe, effective vaccines to help keep themselves and their families safe.
The governor's announcement today comes as the Trump Administration continues its reckless and dangerous efforts to undermine science and the decisions of medical professionals and public health experts, cause panic and confusion across the country, and arbitrarily limit access to safe vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, which was originally authorized and approved "without cutting corners in safety or effectiveness" under the previous Trump Administration. The governor's executive order directs DHS to continually monitor and review immunization recommendations, issue guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine, determine whether any additional measures that may be necessary to provide clarity and guidance on other routine vaccines, and, as appropriate, directs the Chief Medical Officers to issue a standing order to allow and enable Wisconsinites to take steps to keep themselves and their families safe by getting a vaccine at local pharmacies.
"Vaccines save lives, folks. Spreading fear, distrust, and disinformation about safe and effective vaccines isn't just reckless, it's dangerous," said Gov. Evers. "RFK and the Trump Administration are inserting partisan politics into healthcare and the science-based decisions of medical professionals and are putting the health and lives of kids, families, and folks across our state at risk in the process. Here in Wisconsin, we will continue to follow the science to ensure Wisconsinites have access to the healthcare they need when and where they need it to make their own healthcare decisions that are right for them."
In recent months, the federal government has worked to eliminate scientific and medical expertise while restricting authorization and access to certain critical vaccines that help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has led a dangerous and reckless misinformation campaign questioning the effectiveness and utility of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, which are safe, effective, and have been received by hundreds of millions of people under some of the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. The move is a stark departure from President Donald J. Trump's administration during his first term in office, which was responsible for authorizing and approving vaccines designed to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death for COVID-19-the same vaccines the new Trump Administration now aims to curtail.
Despite these actions by the federal government, Gov. Evers today reaffirmed that Wisconsin will continue to follow scientific, peer-reviewed studies and utilize the guidance of national physician organizations.
Additionally, the order directs DHS to work with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI), Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board, and any other relevant state agencies and offices to continue to identify, review, and remove barriers to vaccine access to the fullest extent permitted by law and available funding to ensure vaccines remain broadly and readily accessible to Wisconsinites. The order also directs OCI to work with health plans to develop guidance to insurers regarding safeguarding their access to and limiting the costs of vaccines in various healthcare settings, including pharmacies.
A copy of Gov. Evers' Executive Order #275 is available here.
