The West Coast Health Alliance is a coalition, formed by interstate compact, created by the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington to coordinate public health guidelines separate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),[1] including safeguarding access to vaccines.[2] It was announced by the governors of those states on their websites on the morning of September 3, 2025.[3][4][5] The day after the initial announcement, it was then announced that Hawaii will become the fourth member.[6]
The West Coast Health Alliance criticized the dismantling of the CDC[7] and announced plans to coordinate providing evidence-based immunization recommendations and public access information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.[8][9][10]
Background
The coalition was formed following a series of controversial decisions by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A week before the announcement, CDC director Susan Monarez was fired over disagreements on vaccine policy, with her attorneys claiming she "refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives".[1] Following Monarez's ouster, four top CDC leaders resigned claiming political interference in their public health duties.[10] In June, Kennedy fired all 17 members of an advisory panel tasked with making vaccine recommendations, replacing some with people who had previously spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.[8][9]
Earlier in 2025, the Food and Drug Administration limited access to COVID-19 vaccines, which had previously been available to everyone over 6 months of age.[8] Under the new guidelines, only adults older than 65 and individuals with underlying health issues can receive the vaccines without first consulting a healthcare provider.[8][9] The CDC also removed its recommendation that pregnant women receive the vaccine and required parents to consult a physician before their children could be vaccinated.[9]
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