A bill that would transfer immunization policy authority in New Jersey from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the state Department of Health has drawn significant criticism during a recent Assembly Health Committee meeting. The proposal, known as A6166, would have the state rely on its own health department’s recommendations instead of following federal guidance.
During the committee hearing, Republicans raised issues related to vaccine injury compensation, exemptions, transparency, public input, and political motivations behind the measure. Despite these concerns, the bill advanced along party lines.
Jeffrey Brown, acting commissioner for the state Health Department, was one of few supporters of the bill present at the hearing. His remarks included criticisms of federal government actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Hunterdon) challenged Brown’s credibility:
“You have a lot of derogatory things to say about the federal government. Some of us have no faith in the Health Department in the state of New Jersey. During Covid, the Health Department thought it was wise to put Covid-infected people into nursing homes, killing 8,000 people. Instead of using Trump’s mercy ships and field hospitals, you put them in nursing homes. So why should we have any faith in you?” Peterson asked.
Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, who sponsors the bill and chairs the committee, ended further questioning of Brown after this exchange.
Republican committee member Azzariti (R-Bergen) expressed frustration at not being able to question Brown directly before voting against the measure:
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the opportunity to ask the acting commissioner questions. What I would have asked him, I believe is important. What is the process by which the decisions are going to be made? Who decides? Are we adding more vaccines? Are we taking them away? We need legislative oversight, we need public input when these decisions are made, we need transparency that it is evidence-based, and we need to make sure there are no conflicts of interest so that people can trust government, and we need clear medical and religious exemptions,” Azzariti said.
The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices under President Trump underwent membership changes and recently reduced its recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination at birth. This advisory body’s recommendations help shape CDC guidelines and influence insurance coverage policies for vaccines. Currently in New Jersey, health insurers and Medicaid must cover immunizations recommended by this federal committee.
Opponents questioned how vaccine injury reporting and compensation might change if New Jersey adopts its own standards but did not receive clear answers from Democratic lawmakers.
For decades, vaccine injury monitoring has been handled by two federally managed programs: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. These systems track adverse events and provide compensation for injuries linked to vaccines like polio or measles that are routinely recommended by CDC guidelines.
“The precedent and the law currently holds that for there to be a vaccine reportable injury, that it is the guidance of the CDC that would control whether there is a reimbursable outcome. If we are changing the whole system, I think the VAERS system becomes mute,” Rumpf (R-Ocean) said.
The legislation passed through committee with all Democrats voting in favor after having already cleared a Senate vote 25-12 last December.
John DiMaio represents District 23—including Hackettstown—and has served as Minority Leader since 2022 after joining New Jersey’s General Assembly in 2009. He previously held roles such as Appropriations Officer from 2012 to 2017 and Budget Officer from 2018 to 2019 in addition to his tenure as mayor of Hackettstown between 1991 and 1999 (official legislative roster).
