West Coast States Establish Their Own COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccination Guidelines

In a move that signals a shift from federal oversight, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington—collectively known as the West Coast Health Alliance—have issued new guidance on vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These states are advocating for a broader use of vaccines than currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The joint recommendations include administering COVID-19 vaccines to children aged six months to 23 months, all adults aged 65 and older, younger adults with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant.

They also emphasize the importance of flu shots for everyone six months and older, alongside RSV vaccines for vulnerable groups such as infants, adults aged 50 to 74 with health risks, and seniors over 75. The alliance asserts that their decisions are rooted in scientific evidence rather than political influence. Their guidance closely aligns with CDC recommendations prior to earlier this year, when changes were made under the influence of federal policy shifts.

California has taken additional steps by passing a law that permits the state to rely on independent medical groups, such as the California Department of Public Health, for vaccine coverage decisions instead of solely depending on the CDC's vaccine committee. This move has prompted responses from federal health authorities. An HHS spokesperson argued that some states' actions undermine public trust and emphasized that future policies will be based on rigorous scientific evidence.

Meanwhile, other states such as Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania have also issued their own vaccine guidelines, with Florida planning to phase out childhood vaccine mandates. These developments indicate a growing trend among states to assert more control over vaccine policies based on local scientific assessments.

For more information on vaccine recommendations, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases provides additional resources. This evolving landscape reflects ongoing debates over public health policies and the balance of federal versus state authority in vaccine regulation.