In a significant move, four Western states led by Democrats have unveiled their own recommendations for three common seasonal vaccines. This announcement directly challenges recent shifts in federal vaccine policy spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The “West Coast Health Alliance,” comprising health officials from California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, advises that all residents aged 6 months and older should receive a flu shot this fall. They also advocate for broad segments of the population to get a Covid-19 vaccine, specifically mentioning pregnant individuals and children aged 6 months to 2 years. Furthermore, the alliance recommends RSV vaccines for infants under 8 months, adults over 75, and those with specific underlying health conditions.
These new state-level guidelines largely align with the long-standing clinical advice from major national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
However, these recommendations notably differ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current stance under Secretary Kennedy. The federal CDC no longer suggests the Covid vaccine for healthy pregnant women and recommends it for healthy children only after a doctor’s consultation. The CDC has not issued significant changes regarding flu vaccines nor has it yet provided specific guidance on RSV vaccines.
This week is critical, as the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to convene and potentially revise recommendations for several vaccines, including those for Covid-19, hepatitis B, and measles. Earlier this summer, Secretary Kennedy controversially dismissed and replaced all previous ACIP members with individuals known for their skepticism about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The Western states’ new guidelines were released on the very day Susan Monarez, the recently removed director of the CDC, testified before the Senate health committee. Monarez stated she was fired by Kennedy for her refusal to endorse his vaccine recommendations without first reviewing the scientific evidence supporting them.
The health officers from the four states, all of whom are medical doctors, emphasized that their recommendations were developed in consultation with leading medical organizations and subject matter experts. Their aim is also to alleviate potential strain on hospitals during the upcoming winter season by reducing community transmission and severe illness across their states.
Dr. Erica Pan, Director of the California Department of Public Health, affirmed in a statement her commitment to ensuring residents have access to reliable data to make informed health decisions, underscoring the strong unity within the public health, healthcare, and scientific communities.
A key unanswered question remains: whether insurance companies will be mandated to cover vaccinations for individuals whose eligibility falls outside the federal guidelines. However, health experts generally believe that vaccine coverage is a cost-effective measure, as it can prevent far more expensive hospitalizations.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, these Western states formed a similar collaborative group to enhance public trust in vaccines. Furthermore, Northeastern states have also reportedly engaged in discussions to coordinate their own regional vaccine recommendations.
While seasonal vaccination rates often lag behind those for routine childhood immunizations like the MMR vaccine (protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella), there’s a concerning trend of declining coverage rates across the board. Currently, a majority of kindergartners reside in states where childhood vaccination rates are insufficient to achieve widespread community immunity.
The Trump administration’s ongoing divergence from mainstream medical recommendations on vaccine policy is anticipated to continue. For instance, the very federal committee that Secretary Kennedy reformed is expected to propose restrictions on hepatitis B shots for newborns in the coming days.
Here are the comprehensive vaccine recommendations from health officials in the Western states:
Covid-19 Vaccine Recommendations:
- Children aged 6 to 23 months; children aged 2 to 18 years with identified risk factors; or any child never previously vaccinated against Covid-19. This also includes all children who are in close contact with individuals possessing risk factors.
- Women who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, in the postpartum period, or lactating.
- Adults aged 65 years and older; adults younger than 65 years with identified risk factors; and adults who are in close contact with individuals possessing risk factors.
Flu Vaccine Recommendations:
- Every individual aged 6 months and older, encompassing women who are planning pregnancy, currently pregnant, postpartum, or lactating.
RSV Vaccine Recommendations:
- Children younger than 8 months; children aged 8 to 19 months with identified risk factors.
- All pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of gestational age.
- Adults aged 75 years and older; adults aged 50 to 74 years with identified risk factors.
(Apoorva Mandavilli contributed to this report.)