West Coast States Launch Alliance to Bolster Public Health Amid Federal Concerns
OLYMPIA,WA – September 3,2025 – Washington,California,and Oregon today announced teh formation of a new West Coast Health Alliance,a collaborative effort to ensure residents receive science-based public health recommendations. The alliance comes amid growing concerns about the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the current management,marked by changes including the dismissal of key advisory committees,restrictions on access to mRNA COVID shots,rollbacks of some pediatric vaccines,and reduced federal support for state health initiatives.
The governors of the three states expressed alarm over what they describe as a politicization of public health guidance, possibly undermining public trust and leaving Americans more vulnerable to preventable diseases.
“Our communities deserve clear and clear interaction about vaccines-communication grounded in science,not ideology,” said Sejal Hathi,MD,MBA,director of the Oregon Health Authority,in the governors’ 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. That is why Oregon is committed, alongside California and Washington, to leading with science and delivering evidence-based recommendations that protect health, save lives, and restore confidence in our public health system.”
The alliance’s formation follows reports of career CDC staff resigning in protest and growing anxieties about the agency’s ability to serve as a reliable source of scientific health details. The move also occurs as pharmaceutical companies, like Pfizer, defend the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines following recent remarks questioning their efficacy.
the West Coast Health Alliance aims to provide a consistent, scientifically sound approach to public health challenges, safeguarding the well-being of residents in the face of evolving health threats.
References
- Washington, California and Oregon to launch new West Coast Health Alliance to uphold scientific integrity in public health as Trump destroys CDC’s credibility. News release. Governor Bob Ferguson. September 3, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025.
- Pfizer defends COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness after Trump remarks. Reuters. September 3,2025.Accessed September 3, 2025.
- Armour S. At CDC, worries mount that agency has taken anti-science turn. KFF. September 3, 2025. Accessed september 3, 2025.
