Lead
— Hawaii has joined California, Oregon and Washington in the West Coast Health Alliance, a four-state effort to align evidence-based immunization guidance and public-health recommendations to keep residents safe amid federal uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii formally joined the West Coast Health Alliance on Sept. 4, 2025, joining CA, OR and WA.
- The alliance aims to deliver unified, science-driven immunization guidance across the four states.
- States will rely on respected national medical organizations and local experts for recommendations.
- Each state retains independent authority and will respect Tribal sovereignty over vaccine services.
- The announcement cites recent changes at the CDC and the removal of ACIP members as a driver for action.
- Shared principles and coordinated guidance are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
Verified Facts
On September 4, 2025, the Governor of Hawaii announced the state will participate in the West Coast Health Alliance alongside California, Oregon and Washington. The alliance’s stated purpose is to provide consistent immunization recommendations based on safety, efficacy, transparency and access.
The four states plan to align immunization guidance by consulting national medical organizations and trusted scientific experts. Officials said this coordination is meant to give residents clear, consistent guidance regardless of shifting federal policies.
Leaders emphasized that while principles will be shared across the alliance, each state will continue to set policies that reflect its own laws, geography and public-health systems. The states also affirmed respect for Tribal sovereignty and acknowledged that tribal authorities will retain control over vaccine services for their communities.
The announcement referenced actions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier in 2025, including the June removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). California, Oregon and Washington publicly condemned that removal in June; the alliance says the change contributed to a gap in consistent federal vaccine guidance.
Context & Impact
Officials framed the alliance as a regional response to perceived instability in federal guidance. State-level coordination could improve communication to clinicians, manufacturers and families by offering a predictable set of recommendations for vaccine use and planning.
Potential impacts include more consistent public messaging across the four states, closer collaboration on vaccine access and distribution, and a clearer signal to manufacturers about demand and scheduling. Each state’s legal and operational differences, however, mean implementation details will vary.
Health systems and providers in the region may benefit from aligned advisories, but local health departments will still adapt guidance to fit state law, supply conditions and population needs. The alliance has committed to finalizing shared principles in the coming weeks to strengthen public confidence in vaccines and public-health decisions.
Short list of near-term actions
- Finalize and publish shared guiding principles for immunization.
- Coordinate with national medical organizations for technical recommendations.
- Communicate unified guidance to providers, schools and the public.
Official Statements
“Hawaii is proud to stand with our West Coast partners to ensure public health decisions are grounded in science, not politics,”
Governor Josh Green, M.D.
“We reaffirm our commitment to science-driven decision-making and will continue to provide clear, evidence-based guidance to people living in our states,”
Joint statement from Governors Newsom, Kotek and Ferguson
Unconfirmed
- Exact timelines and text of the alliance’s final shared principles have not yet been released.
- Specific changes to state vaccine schedules or mandates resulting from coordination are not detailed at this time.
- Any formal federal response to the alliance has not been announced.
Bottom Line
The formation of a four-state West Coast Health Alliance signals a regional push for consistent, science-based immunization guidance amid concerns about federal advisory capacity. It aims to strengthen public trust and operational coordination, but concrete outcomes will depend on the alliance’s forthcoming principles and how each state implements them.