States collaborate to publish health recommendations following the alleged destruction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Coordinated action by multiple states to publish health safety advisories in response to the alleged devastation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The West Coast is taking a bold step in public health policy, with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announcing the establishment of the West Coast Health Alliance on Wednesday. The alliance aims to coordinate public health guidelines separate from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as Hawaii joins the alliance shortly thereafter.

The formation of the West Coast Health Alliance is a response to the Trump Administration's perceived destruction of the CDC's credibility and scientific integrity. The move comes after Dr. Susan Monarez, the CDC Director, was ousted by the White House a week ago following a clash with US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccine policy. Four top agency leaders of the CDC promptly announced their resignations in solidarity with Dr. Monarez.

The West Coast Health Alliance intends to ensure that public health strategies are based on the best available science. The alliance aims to finalize shared principles in the coming weeks, relying on guidance from national medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

However, the HHS Director of Communications, Andrew Nixon, suggests that the states' moves away from CDC guidance are based on partisanship, rather than science. The statement from HHS asserts that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in the country, and policy will be based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science.

Meanwhile, some state and local health departments have been looking for ways to end their reliance on the CDC and its advisers for their vaccine policies. For instance, Maine, one of the member states, has recently struck language in its vaccine access law referencing the ACIP and created a pathway to purchase vaccines outside of the federal Vaccines for Children Program.

The West Coast Health Alliance also aims to address gaps in federal support and resources, particularly in areas such as vaccine distribution, pandemic preparedness, laboratory services, epidemiology, and other key public health priorities. The alliance's formation follows the Northeast Public Health Collaboration, consisting of nine states, which was formed by state and city health officials as a response to shifting federal health priorities and deep cuts to health agencies.

The departures of top leaders from the CDC have added urgency to the efforts of states to end their reliance on the CDC. The governors' decision to form the West Coast Health Alliance comes amidst ongoing disputes about vaccine policy and questions about the CDC's role in public health decision-making. Lawyers for Dr. Monarez claimed she was "targeted" after refusing to endorse unscientific, reckless directives and firing dedicated health experts.

The statement from Andrew Nixon implies that Democrat-run states eroded the American people's trust in public health agencies during the COVID era by pushing unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports. The West Coast Health Alliance, however, emphasizes its commitment to evidence-based public health strategies and restoring public confidence in vaccines and public health.