Recently, the Commonwealth’s new Vaccine Education Advisory Workgroup held its inaugural meeting, reinforcing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to safeguarding vaccine access for Pennsylvanians and protecting families’ freedom to make their own health care decisions.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to preserving access to safe and effective vaccines and providing Pennsylvanians with clear, evidence-based guidance to ensure they have the knowledge and freedom to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families,” Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said. “I applaud the workgroup members — representing primary care physicians, public health experts, and local and community leaders — who are lending their expertise to enhance vaccine education and access for all Pennsylvanians.”

The workgroup, created by Executive Order 2025-02 signed in October, will provide input and recommendations on protecting vaccine access and promoting uptake to protect Pennsylvanians from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and hepatitis B.

The workgroup will meet regularly to discuss:

•Barriers to accessing childhood and adult immunizations,

•Vaccine education and communication to provide consistent evidence-based information tailored to different demographics,

•Harmful, inaccurate, and misguided information about vaccines, and

•Ways to engage Pennsylvanians to build trust and encourage immunizations in areas with historically low vaccination rates.

For decades, evidence has shown that safe and effective vaccines prevent diseases that previously caused Pennsylvanians to get sick.

Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released new vaccine guidance to provide health care providers and residents with trusted information they need to stay healthy.

The Executive Order also directs DOH to establish a state-based safety net to protect children’s access to vaccines, requires all state agencies to align policies with trusted medical experts, and launches a central online vaccine portal.

By providing clear, evidence-based recommendations, the Shapiro Administration is helping keep vaccines accessible and information aligned across health care systems to protect the health of all Pennsylvanians.

You can find more information about vaccines at the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Contributed article