Governor Matt Meyer Directs Standing Order from DPH to Protect COVID-19 Vaccine Access

Governor calls on the Board of Pharmacy to convene an emergency meeting

WILMINGTON - Today, Governor Matt Meyer and the Delaware Division of Public Health issued a standing order on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and are calling on the Board of Pharmacy to convene an emergency meeting to protect vaccine access.

"Vaccines save lives. Science, not politics, will guide how we keep our communities safe," said Governor Matt Meyer. "With this standing order and our partnership with neighboring states, we are taking control of our future, ensuring that every Delawarean has access to the protection they need."

The standing order refers to recommendations from other relevant professional organizations to determine eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. It requests that the Board ensure continued access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all Delawareans aged six months and older, regardless of any high-risk conditions.

Governor Meyer is also calling on the Board of Pharmacy to convene an emergency meeting to affirm this standing order.

The order also aligns with the Department of Insurance's recent assurances that most carriers will maintain their existing vaccine coverage levels.

Governor Meyer is also directing DPH and the Department of Education to begin revising state regulations to ensure that changes to federal guidance do not negatively impact the health and safety of Delaware students.

"Our goal at DPH is to support patients and their health care teams in making informed decisions, while protecting public health and making preventive care easier to access in our communities," said DPH Medical Director Dr. Awele Maduka-Ezeh.

Last week, Delaware formally joined with numerous other Northeastern states, including Massachusetts and New York, in a regional coalition dedicated to crafting independent, evidence-based vaccine recommendations, disease surveillance protocols, and emergency preparedness strategies. Through this collaboration, Delaware aims to enhance public health decision-making based on science, rather than politics.

Recent developments in potential changes to recommendations for other critical vaccinations have shaken public confidence in federal guidance. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is slated to meet on September 18 to potentially revise federal recommendations for multiple vaccines, including MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella).

MMVR national vaccination rates among kindergarteners have dropped to 92.7%, below the 95% herd immunity threshold. So far this year, there have been 1,454 confirmed cases of measles, the worst measles outbreak the U.S. has seen in decades.

Only 13 percent of children were reported to be up to date with the 2024─25 COVID-19 vaccine this spring, reinforcing the importance of ensuring equitable and sustained access to COVID-19 vaccines.

For more information on accessing COVID-19 vaccines in Delaware, talk to your primary care provider, your pharmacy, or your local public health clinic or mobile health unit.

To read the standing order, CLICK HERE.

For any questions or to schedule a one-on-one interview with Governor Meyer, please email [email protected].