Collaborating Vaccine Access Preservation: California, Oregon, and Washington Unite
West Coast Governors Form Alliance to Counter Vaccine Politicization
In a move aimed at ensuring the people of their states have accurate and scientifically based information about vaccines, the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have formed an alliance called the West Coast Health Alliance. The alliance, which plans to expand access to vaccines that are currently federally restricted, aims to protect public health against politicization of the CDC and declining federal health leadership.
The alliance, founded by Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington, Governor Gavin Newsom of California, and Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, will issue unified, science-based vaccination recommendations that may differ from federal guidelines. The governors are concerned about poor information and political attacks on public health coming from Washington, D.C. and Robert Kennedy Jr.
Each state will take individual actions to achieve this goal. For instance, the state of Washington will disconnect from the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and create its own guidelines for vaccine distribution. Washington will also guide insurance companies, doctors, and pharmacies based on its own guidelines for vaccine distribution. Similarly, Oregon and California will develop their own strategies to ensure the public gets the information needed to keep themselves safe and make the right decisions for their health.
The alliance's efforts come as some Republican-led states, such as Florida, are scaling back on vaccine requirements, potentially leading to balkanization in different states regarding children's access to necessary vaccines. The policy of ending all vaccine mandates in Florida, including for school children, has not been put in place yet. The governors of Florida have not responded to NPR's request for comment regarding their plans.
The Department of Health and Human Services has stated that pandemic policies of Democratic-run states have eroded the American people's trust in public health agencies. However, the Department has assured that policy will be based on rigorous evidence and "gold standard science." The alliance plans to improve vaccine accessibility by basing guidance strictly on scientific evidence and national medical expertise rather than political influences.
The West Coast Health Alliance also aims to share better information and make improvements to state laws to ensure residents have access to the best healthcare. The tipping point for the governors was the firing and resignations of key public health officials, such as those at the CDC. The alliance's purpose is to counter the politicization of public health and ensure the people of the West Coast have access to accurate and reliable information about vaccines.
