— The Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced a coordinated West Coast alliance to issue their own vaccine recommendations, saying federal changes at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have politicized guidance and put public health at risk.
Key Takeaways
- The governors of Washington, Oregon and California created a joint effort to align vaccine guidance based on science.
- The move responds to restructuring and staffing changes at the CDC and policy shifts under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Florida announced plans to phase out childhood vaccine mandates under Gov. Ron DeSantis, highlighting a partisan split.
- HHS spokesman Andrew G. Nixon defended federal processes and pointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as the nation’s scientific guide.
- Several other states, including Illinois, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Colorado, are adjusting immunization policies or access plans in response to federal changes.
- Regional collaborations on vaccine strategy previously formed during the early COVID-19 pandemic and among Northeastern states this year.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 3, 2025, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a joint statement saying they will coordinate vaccine recommendations and immunization planning through a shared, science-based framework. They said the alliance will draw on established national medical organizations and peer-reviewed evidence.
The governors cited recent moves at the federal level: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reorganized and reduced staff at the CDC and has advanced policies critics describe as anti-vaccine. Several senior CDC officials resigned following White House attempts to remove the agency director, according to state statements.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that his administration will phase out childhood vaccine mandates, signaling a starkly different state approach. HHS spokesman Andrew G. Nixon responded that the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations and that HHS will rely on rigorous evidence.
States across the country have taken varied steps. Illinois said its health department will consult experts and local advisory panels for fall respiratory-season guidance. New Mexico moved to let pharmacists follow state recommendations when administering vaccines. Pennsylvania’s State Board of Pharmacy voted to protect vaccine access at retail pharmacies after a request from Gov. Josh Shapiro. Colorado issued an order allowing pharmacists to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines without individual prescriptions.
Context & Impact
The governors’ alliance comes as COVID-19 cases are rising in parts of the U.S. and as public confidence in health guidance is fragile. By aligning at the state level, the three West Coast governments aim to maintain consistent messaging and access in their jurisdictions even if federal guidance shifts.
Regional cooperation on public health is not new: during the pandemic, states formed purchasing and distribution partnerships for PPE and coordinated reopening plans. In recent weeks, officials from eight Northeastern states also met to discuss coordinated vaccine recommendations for the fall respiratory season.
Practical effects may include state-specific immunization schedules, expanded authority for pharmacists, public education campaigns, and joint procurement or distribution planning. The alliance could also influence neighboring states to adopt similar measures or to form other regional groups.
Official Statements
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.
California State Health Officer Erica Pan
Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives.
Oregon Health Director Sejal Hathi
Unconfirmed
- Any specific future federal actions to further limit vaccine access remain uncertain until formal HHS or CDC policy announcements are published.
- Details about the alliance’s operational budget, staffing, and exact decision-making processes have not been released.
Bottom Line
The new West Coast alliance formalizes a predictable response from Democratic governors to federal public-health shifts: states are moving to preserve science-driven immunization guidance and access for residents. The partnership is likely to affect regional vaccine access and messaging this fall and could spur similar coalitions in other parts of the country.