In a notable divergence from federal guidelines, the West Coast Health Alliance, encompassing California, Oregon, and Hawaii, has issued updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations. On Wednesday, the alliance urged all adults and children seeking protection to receive the updated vaccines, particularly emphasizing the importance for children aged six to 23 months and those aged two to 18 with risk factors or no prior vaccination history. This stance contrasts sharply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval, which limited the updated vaccines to individuals with health conditions and those aged 65 and older. The alliance’s recommendations come in response to sweeping changes in federal vaccine policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which included the withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and healthy children in May. These federal shifts have prompted medical organizations and states to establish their own guidelines ahead of the fall immunization campaign, aiming to ensure continued access to vaccines. Typically, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a federal advisory body to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides guidance on vaccine administration post-FDA approval. Notably, the West Coast Health Alliance’s recommendations for respiratory syncytial virus and influenza vaccines align with those of the CDC.
West Coast states recommend COVID shots for all adults and children, breaking with federal policy
