Maine and six other northeast states on Thursday formalized a coalition to promote public health and vaccine access, a coordinated response to upheaval at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration where Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is carrying out his decades-long campaign to limit vaccines.

The Northeast Public Health Collaborative includes public health officials from every northeastern state except Vermont and New Hampshire.

Organizers hope to pool resources and expertise to plan for public health emergencies and responses, while sharing vaccine recommendations, data collection and lab services. The group will also use its combined purchasing power to ensure access to vaccines.

In a statement, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said t

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