Four Western U.S. States Unite to Deliver Clear, Unified Vaccine Guidance
(MENAFN) Four Western U.S. states—California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii—have jointly issued updated vaccine recommendations for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, urging regional coordination as federal vaccine policies rapidly evolve. This announcement was made on Wednesday through the newly formed West Coast Health Alliance, established earlier this month to provide unified public health direction.
The alliance’s leaders framed the collaboration as a necessary, practical response to growing uncertainty fueled by recent federal changes. With national guidance weakened due to turnover and shifting policies, the states have aligned their recommendations to safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure continued vaccine access and insurance coverage.
On June 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a key advisory panel that guides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine safety and clinical need. HHS announced plans to reconstruct the committee to restore public trust, naming five new members on September 15.
California criticized these federal actions for "politicizing" the CDC and producing a "vacuum" in evidence-based guidance—an opening the West Coast Health Alliance intends to fill with science-driven recommendations.
Washington State Health Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett highlighted the alliance’s focus: "Vaccines are the best protection we have against serious illness," emphasizing efforts to protect young children, older adults, pregnant people, and others at increased risk.
The four states committed to updating their guidance in line with emerging scientific evidence and leading medical authorities. Alongside the announcement, California unveiled a new law empowering the state to shape future immunization policies through independent medical groups and the California Department of Public Health, reducing reliance on fluctuating federal directives, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.
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