Shapiro’s administration rescinds proposed disease-tracking regulations after public backlash

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced on Friday that it will rescind a series of proposed vaccination and disease‑tracking regulations after receiving more than 10,000 public comments. The 502‑page regulations, which had been in progress for years and were introduced to the public on June 4, would have expanded the department’s investigatory powers to track, prevent, contain, or mitigate contagious diseases.

Spokesperson Neil Ruhland said the department will withdraw the regulations, incorporate feedback, and resubmit the public health rules once Pennsylvanians’ feedback has been adequately incorporated. The decision follows a high‑profile clash between Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over two infant deaths attributed to measles, and it refueled public disapproval of government mandates enacted during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

House Minority Leader Jesse Topper, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, State Rep. Dan Frankel, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa all praised the move, noting that the proposals will not affect federal or state executive orders related to vaccination access. Shapiro’s administration has rescinded at least 11 other regulation proposals since taking office in 2023, and the public comment period ended Monday with a historically high volume of feedback.

Read the full story at inquirer.com.