On Sept. 3, 2025, the Democratic governors of Oregon, Washington and California announced the creation of the Western Health Alliance to preserve access to vaccines in their states after a week of turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Key Takeaways
- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the Western Health Alliance on Sept. 3, 2025.
- The alliance will produce regional immunization guidance informed by national medical organizations.
- The move follows the White House firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and several high-profile resignations at the agency.
- The FDA recently authorized a new round of COVID-19 vaccines but limited distribution to high-risk groups.
- The alliance could pursue options such as joint purchasing; more than 50 million people live across the three states.
- Past cooperation includes the 2020 Western States Pact and coordinated stockpiling of abortion medications.
Verified Facts
In a joint press release, the three governors said the Western Health Alliance will develop immunization guidance “informed by respected national medical organizations.” The announcement was presented as a state-level response to recent changes at the CDC.
Last week the White House removed CDC Director Susan Monarez after disputes over vaccine policy tied to guidance preferred by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership. Several senior career scientists at the CDC resigned in the days that followed.
Nine former CDC directors — from both Republican and Democratic administrations — published an op-ed condemning the agency’s recent leadership changes. Separately, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently named by the administration to an HHS leadership role, wrote an op-ed asserting his approach would restore public trust by addressing bias and conflicts.
The Food and Drug Administration approved a new round of COVID-19 vaccine formulations last week but limited their availability to people considered high-risk. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet this month to discuss eligibility recommendations that guide pharmacists and state programs. Earlier this year, the administration removed all 17 ACIP members and named new advisers who have previously criticized vaccines.
President Donald Trump posted on his social platform that vaccine makers such as Pfizer should further demonstrate vaccine effectiveness amid the controversy; Pfizer’s recent statement included a link to a May presentation on efficacy.
Context & Impact
Federal agencies set approval and national guidance: the FDA evaluates and authorizes vaccines, while CDC committees typically advise on use. States determine school-entry vaccine requirements and manage distribution networks. A regional alliance is therefore limited in authority but can shape supply, purchasing and public messaging.
Possible effects of the Western Health Alliance include coordinated procurement to secure doses, shared state guidelines to reduce confusion among providers, and joint public education to shore up trust. Coordination might help pharmacies and clinics navigate differing federal and state recommendations.
- Policy levers available to the alliance: bulk purchasing, state-level guidance documents, shared distribution logistics, and public information campaigns.
- Constraints include FDA approval rules, federal funding limits, and each state’s legal processes for vaccine mandates.
Official Statements
“The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”
Governors Tina Kotek, Bob Ferguson and Gavin Newsom (joint statement)
“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.”
Dr. Sejal Hathi, Oregon Health Authority
Unconfirmed
- Whether the alliance will sign binding bulk-purchase agreements and the specific vaccines it might target.
- Concrete timelines for when regional immunization guidelines will be published.
- The exact membership and selection process for any advisory body the alliance may convene.
Bottom Line
The Western Health Alliance is a coordinated state response to recent disruptions at the CDC and aims to preserve vaccine access and consistent guidance for more than 50 million residents across the three states. Its practical impact will depend on whether it secures supply arrangements, issues clear guidance, and restores confidence among providers and the public.
Watch for ACIP meeting outcomes, any formal purchasing agreements, and state-issued guidance in the weeks ahead to gauge the alliance’s effect on vaccine availability and uptake.