OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington health officials will ignore new federal vaccine guidance and continue recommending broader childhood immunizations through a regional alliance formed to counter the Trump administration’s policies.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut its childhood vaccine recommendations from 18 to 11 diseases Monday, responding to President Donald Trump’s December request to align with other countries’ approaches.
In September, Washington joined California, Oregon, and Hawaii in the West Coast Health Alliance to maintain previous vaccine recommendations.
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“This decision did not follow established procedure for vaccine policy recommendations and threatens an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in children nationwide,” the alliance said in response to the changing CDC recommendation in a statement on Monday.
The CDC now recommends vaccines for all children against 11 diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, chickenpox, HPV, Hib bacteria, and pneumococcal disease.
Seven vaccines have been moved to “high-risk only” or doctor-recommended categories: flu, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, RSV, and COVID-19. The changes also reduce the HPV vaccine from two or three doses to one.
The American Academy of Pediatrics criticized the federal changes for lacking medical expert review. The organization said the CDC compared vaccine numbers across countries without accounting for differences in health conditions and access to care.
The West Coast Health Alliance said it does not expect the changes to affect vaccine insurance coverage this plan year. All child and adolescent immunizations recommended as of December 31, 2025, will remain available and covered by public and private insurers, the alliance says.
“However the changes create confusion and will put more children at risk of preventable diseases,” the alliance said.
Parents should discuss vaccination decisions with their child’s healthcare provider, health officials recommend.
