The Maine CDC recently proposed amendments that would eliminate the 2009 H1N1 vaccine from the current list of state-mandated vaccines for health care workers and would add seasonal flu shots to the list. The proposed amendments also include the following language related to the COVID-19 vaccine: “ 7. In the event of a public health emergency or extreme public health emergency declared by the governor, the Department may impose control measures, including, but not limited to, mass vaccinations and exclusions from the workplace, and may require immunization or documented immunity to protect public health and minimize the impact from the specific communicable disease.” 

There was quite a bit of media coverage Portland Press Herald article / Maine Public (audio and text) / & NewsCenter Maine (video) covering the hearing, in which MMA comments are included. Director of Communications and Government Affairs, Dan Morin presented short verbal comments in support of the flu mandate but expressed reservations about the emergency mass vaccinations amendment considering the rapid development and approval process of potential COVID vaccines while indicating we will be providing formal written comments before to the December 3 comment deadline. After further research, there apparently can be no vaccine mandate (federal prohibition) for a vaccine under only an EUA, which the current potential vaccines are seeking with the FDA. 

Despite the number of nurses expressing opposition at the hearing, including the Maine State Nurses Association president, the updated American Nurses Association statement from this summer supports mandatory flu vaccines with exemptions ONLY for medical contraindications. Unfortunately, a number of physicians spoke out against the rule, with one specifically making reference to a claim that the flu vaccine “causes 7x more miscarriages for pregnant women.” 

We will be accepting your input on the proposed amendments as we draft our written comments due December 3. Please reach out directly to Dan Morin at dmorin@mainemed.com with any comments or suggestions.