The West Coast Health Alliance, a partnership between Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii, has released new vaccine recommendations for COVID-19, influenza and RSV in response to concerns that federal guidelines could change under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership at the CDC.
The Alliance says it wants to prioritize safety over politics as the federal government considers changes to vaccine recommendations.
WCHA expressed concern that Kennedy’s firing of all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee and the subsequent appointment of vaccine skeptics could undermine the agency’s credibility and inject politics into important health guidelines.
The CDC currently recommends COVID vaccines for all ages, but the West Coast Health Alliance worries those guidelines could change soon.
The timing comes as Washington state experienced one of its deadliest flu seasons in the past decade from 2024 to 2025, with more than 500 people dying from influenza.
The new guidelines from the West Coast Health Alliance are based on research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Physicians.
The alliance’s COVID vaccine recommendations target specific high-risk groups rather than the universal approach currently endorsed by federal health officials.
For COVID-19 vaccines, the Alliance recommends immunization for children under 2 years old, children 18 and under with risk factors, and adults 65 and older.
The Alliance maintains broader recommendations for influenza vaccines, suggesting everyone older than 6 months receive a flu shot. Officials say seasonal vaccination serves as a critical public health tool to reduce serious illness.
For RSV vaccines, the guidelines recommend immunization for children younger than 8 months. Adults 75 and older should receive RSV vaccination, as should adults 50 and over who have risk factors.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice will meet this week and is expected to shift eligibility requirements for various immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccines.
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