On Wednesday, California, Oregon and Washington announced a new collaborative alliance that officials say "will help safeguard scientific expertise by ensuring that public health policies in California, Oregon, and Washington are informed by trusted scientists, clinicians, and other public health leaders." Then on Thursday, Hawaii announced that it's also joining the alliance.
Immunization guidelines would normally be issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but in a shockingly short period of time, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has decimated the critical public health functions of the agency.
In a contentious hearing before the Senate Finance Committee Thursday during which Kennedy was grilled by Republicans and Democrats for management of HHS, he insisted his actions were geared toward making the CDC "trustworthy."
Forming the West Coast Health Alliance appears to be how the four states mentioned are rallying on behalf of the American people. While the details have yet to emerge, its intent is clear: Restore science, in whatever way and whatever scale we can.
This is a preview of Dr. Esther Choo's latest column. Read the full column here.
