Maine and six other northeastern states are forming a collaborative that appears to be a reaction to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions on vaccines.

A news release Thursday from the newly created Northeast Public Health Collaborative does not mention Kennedy’s name, but includes language to ensure “access to vaccines” and provide science-based information.

Federal agencies under Secretary Kennedy have recently dropped COVID shot recommendations for healthy kids and pregnant women, and restricted eligibility to new COVID shots.

Maine and three other New England states are part of the new collaborative, which is composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New York City.

The Thursday release from the group says, “The Collaborative’s shared purpose is…ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen confidence in vaccines and science-based medicine.”

The release includes a statement from Maine CDC Director Dr. Puthiery Va. “By working together, we can build more adaptable, sustainable, and resilient public health framework for the region,” said D, Va.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines limiting the updated shots to people who are at risk for serious complications because they are 65 or older or have other health problems.

As well, the federal Centers for Disease Control recently dropped COVID shot recommendations for healthy kids and pregnant women.

Secretary Kennedy has replaced all member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, and replaced them with hand picked new members, including some with known anti vaccines stances.

The committee is scheduled to vote Friday on recommendations for Covid shots and childhood immunizations for hepatitis B and measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, or MMRV.