Opinion: How states can resist the potential Trump vaccine shortages

Vaccine skepticism has infiltrated not just the fringe of public opinion, but also reached the highest echelons of the federal government. Reports suggest that the Trump administration is contemplating alterations to a crucial policy, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which has safeguarded the domestic vaccine supply for a span of 40 years.

Such a shift in policy could further imperil vaccine access and potentially precipitate shortages across the United States. The implications of these attacks on vaccines may extend beyond the surface, posing significant risks to the industrial policy that has ensured consistent vaccine availability in the U.S. for four decades. This could lead to a scenario where individuals seeking vaccines find themselves unable to obtain them.

However, as detailed in a recent paper, the Trump administration need not be the sole arbiter of vaccine distribution. Policymakers at the state level possess the authority to assume control and directly manufacture vaccines, thereby averting shortages and safeguarding the well-being of the American populace.