Vaccine Safety, Housing Bill, and more

December 11, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

As the holiday season approaches and we gather with family and friends, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is reminding us that it is not too late to get your Flu Shot and updated COVID vaccine, both of which are recommended for all those who are 6 months and older. Adults over age 60 and pregnant women can also get an RSV vaccine. Below is some additional information about flu, COVID, and childhood vaccines.

Vaccines: Measles, Hepatitis B, Flu, and COVID

Childhood vaccines and diseases have been in the news both nationally and here at home this week. Yesterday, our Public Health Commissioner announced that there is now an active measles case in an unvaccinated 10 year old child in Fairfield County. It is the first case here in Connecticut in four years. Highly contagious, and particularly dangerous for children under five, measles is best prevented through vaccination, which are 97% effective after two doses. Childhood vaccines prevent disease. You can learn more about measles and children here.

Nationally, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted this week to change the recommendation for the Hepatitis B vaccination, currently first given at birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics and multiple other professional organizations recommend retaining the current schedule, particularly based on decades of data and experience. The Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) recently published findings based on over 400 reports saying that, “a delay will needlessly endanger the health of America’s children, putting more of them at risk of HBV infection."

On Tuesday, I joined Public Health Commissioner Juthani’s Advisory Committee, created following legislation we passed in the Public Health Committee, for their discussion on COVID, flu, and vaccines. The experts gathered from multiple academic and health systems here in our state shared their concerns about the recommendation to delay the Hepatitis B dose.

The group also encouraged all those 6 months and older to get a flu shot and an updated COVID vaccine, particularly in light of the recent surge in cases in New York. The Yale Pediatric representative noted that they are already seeing a flu surge in their ICU. You can get a flu shot or COVID update at your local pharmacy or through your health department. To find your nearest location, go to vaccinefinder.org

You can watch the Advisory Committee meeting here - my remarks begin right around 1:29:30.

Housing Bill - HB 8002

I was honored to join Governor Lamont, legislative leaders, and advocates for the ceremonial bill signing ceremony for House Bill 8002 An Act Concerning Housing Growth. There have been many questions about this bill, as well as considerable misinformation about what the bill does and does not do.

The Partnership for Strong Communities will be hosting a webinar to explain and detail the bill, including speakers from one of Connecticut’s Councils of Governments as well as the state’s Growth Coordinator for the Office of Policy and Management. You can sign up to attend here.

If you missed the Op-Ed written by Reps. Leeper, Keitt, and me, you can read it here. To listen to this week’s event and hear my comments, you can click below. You can also access some Myth vs. Fact information here. The plain language summary, including an executive summary and a much more detailed summary can be found here.

You can watch the press conference we did on this legislation here - my remarks begin right around 18:40.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. As always, please feel free to reach out directly with your ideas, questions, or concerns. You can reach me by phone at (860) 240-8585 or (203) 522-3037.

Take care,