California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, and Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D, announced the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance, a new regional partnership designed to ensure residents continue to receive science-based public health guidance despite turmoil at the federal level.

The Alliance formed after the dismantling of the CDC’s scientific leadership left states, providers, and families without consistent national direction. By aligning policies across the four states, the Alliance will base vaccine and other preventive health recommendations on evidence, transparency, and trust.

Health officials emphasized that consistent, reliable communication is critical for maintaining public confidence in vaccines and preventive medicine. “Public health at its core is about prevention — preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths,” said Dennis Worsham, Secretary of Health for Washington State.

The Alliance aims to coordinate immunization guidance based on respected national medical organizations, promote clear and transparent communication around vaccines and preventive care, affirm Tribal sovereignty, recognizing Tribes’ authority over their own health services, and strengthen public confidence by grounding all recommendations in scientific expertise.

As the respiratory virus season approaches, the West Coast Health Alliance safeguards millions of residents and ensures that public health decisions are informed by science, not ideology.