The governors of Washington, Oregon, and California have announced the formation of a new alliance to create their own vaccine recommendations. The move is in response to concerns that the Trump administration is politicizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and putting public health at risk.
On the same day as this announcement, Florida revealed plans to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates. Governor Ron DeSantis intends to limit vaccine requirements and other health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These developments come amid rising COVID-19 cases. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has restructured and reduced staffing at the CDC while promoting anti-vaccine policies that contradict established scientific research. Recent efforts by the White House to remove CDC leadership have led to resignations among top officials.
“The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences,” said the governors in a joint statement.
California State Health Officer Erica Pan added: “The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced and respected health leaders and advisers, along with the lack of using science, data, and evidence to improve our nation’s health are placing lives at risk.”
Washington state Health Secretary Dennis Worsham stated: “Public health is about prevention — preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths.”
Oregon Health Director Sejal Hathi commented: “Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives. But when guidance about their use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most.”
According to Governors Bob Ferguson (Washington), Tina Kotek (Oregon), and Gavin Newsom (California), their states will coordinate on vaccine recommendations based on evidence from respected national medical organizations.
In response, Andrew G. Nixon from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criticized Democratic-led states for past pandemic policies such as school lockdowns and mask mandates. He stated: “Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American people’s trust in public health agencies.” Nixon emphasized that immunization policy would continue to be guided by rigorous scientific standards through federal advisory committees.
Elsewhere in the country, state-level public health agencies are taking steps to maintain access to vaccines after federal regulators introduced new restrictions on COVID-19 shots. Illinois is seeking advice from its Immunization Advisory Committee regarding upcoming immunizations for respiratory illnesses expected in fall 2025. New Mexico is updating protocols so pharmacists can follow state guidelines rather than only federal ones when administering vaccines.
Last month, representatives from eight Northeastern states met in Rhode Island to discuss coordinated approaches toward vaccination policy—excluding New Hampshire but including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and all other New England states. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said her state was leading this bipartisan coalition: “We’re going to make sure that people get the vaccines they need – no matter what the Trump Administration does.”
A spokesperson for Connecticut’s Department of Public Health noted that cross-border meetings are common due to shared challenges across state lines: “Public health challenges extend beyond state lines, making collaboration essential for effective response and prevention efforts.” The spokesperson also mentioned last month’s meeting enabled sharing best strategies amid ongoing federal restructuring.
This West Coast Alliance follows previous collaborations between Democratic-led states during earlier phases of COVID-19 when regional groups worked together on securing protective equipment for frontline workers as well as reopening plans following initial shutdowns.
