West Coast Governors Form Health Alliance Amid CDC Turmoil, Vow to Protect Vaccine Access
West Coast Governors Form Health Alliance Amid CDC Turmoil, Vow to Protect Vaccine Access
In a significant regional move, the Democratic governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have officially launched the Western Health Alliance, a new public health partnership aimed at preserving access to vaccines and establishing independent immunization guidelines for their states.
The alliance, announced in a joint press release from Governors Gavin Newsom, Tina Kotek, and Bob Ferguson, directly challenges recent federal actions, with the governors stating that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become “a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science.” They emphasized their commitment to preventing their states’ populations from being put at risk.
This initiative follows a week of considerable upheaval at the CDC, including the reported firing of Director Susan Monarez after her refusal to approve vaccine policies favored by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Several top career scientists also resigned in protest, and nine former CDC directors publicly condemned Kennedy’s leadership. Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine activist, has defended his actions, asserting he is “restoring the public’s trust in the CDC” by eliminating bias.
Further escalating tensions, Secretary Kennedy recently removed all 17 members from the CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices, replacing them with individuals who have criticized vaccines. This move comes as the committee is set to meet this month to discuss recommendations for the newly FDA-approved round of COVID-19 vaccines. The Western Health Alliance reflects a determined effort by the West Coast states to ensure consistent, science-based public health directives for their combined population of over 50 million people.
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