Hawaii joins California-led West Coast Health Alliance for unified vaccine guidance

Hawaii has joined the West Coast Health Alliance, aligning with California, Oregon, and Washington to offer unified immunization recommendations based on scientific evidence. The move comes just one day after the alliance was established by the three mainland states.

The four-state partnership aims to provide guidance on vaccines that prioritizes safety, efficacy, and transparency. According to a joint statement from Governors Gavin Newsom of California, Tina Kotek of Oregon, and Bob Ferguson of Washington: “We are proud to announce the state of Hawaii is joining the West Coast Health Alliance to uphold the scientific integrity of public health recommendations. We look forward to collaborating as allied states on the best practices for our constituents. Together, we’re taking a stand to ensure the safety of our residents is protected and guided by evidence-based findings and not political whims.”

Governor Josh Green of Hawaii said, “Hawaii is proud to stand with our West Coast partners to ensure public health decisions are grounded in science, not politics. As an island state, we understand how critical it is to protect our communities from preventable disease. By joining the West Coast Health Alliance, we’re giving Hawaii’s people the same consistent, evidence-based guidance they can trust to keep their families and neighbors safe. Using science as our guiding star, Hawaii had the highest vaccination rate and lowest mortality rate of virtually any other state or region across the globe,” said Green, an emergency room physician who became Governor in 2022. “This approach is critical as we all go forward into an era with severe threats from infectious diseases.”

The alliance intends for each member state to pursue its own strategies shaped by local laws and circumstances while adhering to shared principles that support public confidence in vaccines and respect Tribal sovereignty over vaccine services.

The creation of this alliance follows recent changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including leadership shifts and reduced transparency that have impacted national preparedness for respiratory virus season and other health challenges. In June, California, Oregon, and Washington criticized Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s removal of all members from a key CDC advisory committee on immunizations.

The governors reaffirmed their commitment: “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to science-driven decision-making. We will continue to provide clear, evidence-based guidance to people living in our states, look to scientific experts in trusted medical professional organizations for recommendations, and work with public health leaders across the country to ensure all Americans are protected. The absence of consistent, science-based federal leadership poses a direct threat to our nation’s health security. To protect the health of our communities, the West Coast Health Alliance will continue to ensure that our public health strategies are based on best available science.”

In coming weeks, alliance members plan to finalize shared principles designed to strengthen trust in vaccines among residents.