West Coast States Will Issue Their Own Vaccine Schedule, Breaking With CDC

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s HHS has already taken steps to limit vaccine availability.

California Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has partnered with the governors from Oregon and Washington to create a West Coast Health Alliance. Rich Pedroncelli/AP

California, Oregon and Washington announced on Wednesday that they are forming an alliance that will issue its own vaccine recommendations instead of relying on those made by the Trump administration.

The governors of the three states said their new group, the West Coast Health Alliance, “represents a unified regional response to the Trump Administration’s destruction of the U.S. CDC’s credibility and scientific integrity,” in a joint press release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been in disarray in recent weeks after the Trump administration fired its director, Susan Monarez, reportedly for pushing back against changes to the group that generates vaccine schedule recommendations.