West Coast States, Hawaii Form Alliance to Uphold Science-Based Vaccine Guidance

California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii have formed the West Coast Health Alliance in response to actions by the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that have politicized the CDC and undermined its scientific integrity. This alliance aims to coordinate vaccine guidelines based on science and evidence, countering federal changes such as the firing of CDC experts and removal of vaccine advisory panels. The coalition emphasizes maintaining public trust, safety, efficacy, transparency, and access to vaccines, while opposing policies that complicate vaccine access or promote ideology over science. Governors from these states have criticized the federal government's handling of public health, highlighting the risks posed by politicization and the dismantling of trusted institutions. Hawaii’s Gov. Josh Green, a licensed physician, joined the alliance to ensure consistent and evidence-based guidance for his state. The alliance reflects a broader divide in the U.S., as some states push back against federal public health decisions while others, like Florida, move to reduce vaccine mandates.