California, Oregon and Washington are forming an alliance to coordinate public health guidelines in an attempt to fill the role that federal agencies have held for decades.

The governors of the three states issued a joint statement Wednesday announcing the West Coast Health Alliance, which will coordinate public health guidelines and align immunization recommendations informed by “national medical organizations.” The group will finalize its “shared principles,” in the coming weeks.

The announcement comes amid turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal agency responsible for providing recommendations to the public about when and how to use approved or authorized vaccines. There are also questions about the future of federal officials’ role in vetting the safety

See Full Page