Sacramento, CA–The California Medical Association (CMA) thanks the legislature and Newsom Administration for their continued dedication to providing vaccines for Californians. Following the signing of Assembly Bill 144 – which provides important safeguards to keep Californians safe and healthy – CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician, issued the following statement:

“Today’s signature on AB 144 will allow California to align the state’s health insurance coverage policies with recommendations from credible medical organizations and comes as the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets later this week.  

"AB 144 is critical to ensuring that Californians continue to have access to life-saving vaccines according to evidence-based standards by updating insurance coverage requirements and other laws related to vaccination.

"We remain focused on ensuring access to proven, life-saving vaccinations remains available for all Californians, especially those who need them the most.”  

CMA also supports news from the Governor’s office today announcing that the West Coast Health Alliance has issued unified, science-based vaccine recommendations ahead of the winter virus season.