Sept. 15, 2025
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday signed Executive Order #275 directing the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to take all available actions to ensure residents maintain access to safe and effective vaccines, including those for COVID-19, amid what state officials describe as growing federal limitations and public confusion.
The order instructs DHS to monitor immunization recommendations, issue updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccines, and assess whether additional measures are needed to clarify access to routine vaccinations. It also authorizes Wisconsin’s Chief Medical Officers to issue standing orders allowing residents to receive vaccines at local pharmacies without a prescription.
The move comes in response to recent federal actions that have narrowed eligibility for updated COVID-19 vaccines and questioned their safety and efficacy. Critics of the federal approach, including state officials, say the changes have undermined public trust and disrupted access to critical immunizations.
“Vaccines save lives,” Evers said in a statement accompanying the order. “Spreading fear, distrust, and disinformation about safe and effective vaccines isn’t just reckless, it’s dangerous.”
The order follows efforts by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly questioned the utility of vaccines, including those developed to prevent COVID-19. The federal government has recently limited authorization of updated COVID-19 vaccines to older adults and high-risk individuals, a departure from previous guidance that made vaccines available to all individuals aged six months and older.
Evers’ order reaffirms Wisconsin’s commitment to following peer-reviewed scientific studies and guidance from national physician organizations. It also directs DHS to collaborate with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, the Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board, and other relevant agencies to identify and remove barriers to vaccine access.
Under the order, OCI is tasked with working with health insurers to develop guidance aimed at safeguarding coverage and minimizing costs for vaccines administered in various healthcare settings, including pharmacies.
The executive order is effective immediately. A copy of Executive Order #275 is available on the governor’s website.
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