California, Oregon, and Washington launched a new West Coast Health Alliance on Wednesday to coordinate when issuing public health recommendations, noting that the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the credibility of the U.S. CDC.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s recent ouster of former CDC director Susan Monarez after she reportedly declined to accept vaccine recommendations issued by an advisory panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
RFK Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, appointed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June shortly after removing all 17 former members, citing, among other things, conflict of interest.
“President Trump’s mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists—and his blatant politicization of the agency—is a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“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.”
Through the alliance, the democratic governors said they aim to coordinate when formulating health guidelines in line with immunization recommendations issued by national medical organizations.
“This will allow residents to receive consistent, science-based recommendations they can rely on—regardless of shifting federal actions,” they added, noting that in the coming weeks they will finalize shared principles that will boost confidence in vaccines and public health.
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