Legislation Signed Protecting Vaccine Access in New Jersey

On Jan 20, 2026

In one of his last official duties, Gov. Phil Muprhy signed legislation over the weekend updating New Jersey’s laws to ensure immunization guidance is state-based and aligning health insurance coverage requirements with that guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). Concurrently, NJDOH is announcing that a comprehensive update to N.J.A.C. 8:57 will be adopted today, in the New Jersey Register. Together, these actions will ensure New Jersey’s communicable disease protocols remain grounded in best practices and evidence, while helping keep our families safeguarded against preventable communicable diseases.

Until now, New Jersey laws relied on recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to inform vaccine recommendations. Under S4894/A6166, current statutes specifically referencing ACIP’s recommendations concerning vaccinations and immunizations would be replaced with references to the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH).

“This year, we have seen the federal government diverge and waffle on evidence-based recommendations from trusted health professionals – rewriting federal vaccine guidance to the detriment of our communities and putting our most vulnerable residents at risk, particularly our children,” said Governor Murphy. “We take seriously our responsibility to preserve and protect public health, which is why we have mobilized quickly to mitigate the harmful impact of these dangerous policy changes. Today’s bill signing is yet another action by our administration to provide equitable access to vaccines, achieve community protection, and build sustained trust in vaccinations.”

The law would also require NJDOH to consider the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American College of Physicians (ACP), as appropriate, in addition to ACIP’s recommendations. This means NJDOH is not required to mirror federal guidance and can look to other professional healthcare bodies to determine state guidance.

The bill also requires health insurers and health benefit plans—including Department of Banking and Insurance-regulated plans; NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s Medicaid and Children Health Insurance Program; the State Health Benefits Plan; and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Plan—to provide coverage for immunizations recommended by NJDOH without any cost-sharing.

Sponsors of S4894/A6166, which takes effect immediately, include Senators Joseph Vitale and Andrew Zwicker, along with Assemblywoman Carol Murphy.

New Jersey families and health care providers rely on consistent, evidence-based vaccine guidance,” said Senator Joseph Vitale. “This legislation ensures our standards remain rooted in medical expertise, even as federal policy becomes less predictable. Recent actions, including the federal move to weaken longstanding Hepatitis B vaccine guidance, show how quickly national recommendations can shift without clear evidence or clinical consensus. New Jersey should not be dependent on abrupt changes that could undermine confidence in immunizations. By empowering the Department of Health to consider the full spectrum of expert recommendations, we are building a more resilient and dependable vaccine policy for our state.”

“New Jersey is acting to ensure that decisions about immunization schedules are informed by scientific consensus and developed by medical experts with the best interests of our residents at heart,” said Senator Andrew Zwicker. “As we see a dramatic rise in vaccine skepticism and changes at the federal level that will result in the widespread contraction of preventable diseases, we are ensuring that families have access to evidence-based vaccine recommendations by our Department of Health and are able to obtain them without major cost barriers.”

Additionally, for the first time in 25 years, NJDOH is adopting on January 20, 2026, updates to New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8 – Health, Chapter 57 – Communicable Diseases (N.J.A.C. 8:57). The updated rule modernizes communicable disease reporting requirements for healthcare professionals, laboratories, and other mandated reporters; updates standards and procedures for the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS); and aligns vaccination standards for schools and institutions of higher education with current public health best practices.

The revised rule does not add any new vaccination requirements for school attendance. It ensures that existing vaccine requirements reflect modern standards by linking them to the most current immunization schedules recommended by ACIP or, where appropriate, assess other recognized advisory bodies, including the AAP, ACP, AAFP, and ACOG.

“Thank you to Governor Murphy, Senators Vitale and Zwicker, and Assemblywoman Murphy for their steadfast protection of patients by ensuring continued coverage for life-saving, science-backed vaccines,” said Chrissy Buteas, president and CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ). “Vaccines are the safest and most cost-effective ways to keep children and adults healthy and out of hospitals, and New Jersey’s patients, families and our public health system will benefit from their leadership.”

“NJAHP’s member health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to routine preventive vaccines at no cost to members,” said Wardell Sanders, president, New Jersey Association of Health Plans. “While health plans operate within a framework shaped by federal and state laws, as well as program and customer requirements, their evidence-based approach to immunization coverage remains consistent.”

“We are very supportive of these important changes and look forward to working with the State and health care providers to make sure that people have access to science-based recommendations and these critical life-saving vaccines,” said Linda Schwimmer, President and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.

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