Immunizations: West Coast Health Alliance

In 2025, Washington state, Oregon, California, and Hawaii formed the West Coast Health Alliance to ensure public health recommendations in the four-state region are guided by science, effectiveness, and safety. To develop its recommendations, health officers, who are all physicians, and subject matter experts from each of the alliance states review guidelines from credible national chapters from organized medicine.

The WSMA will help support and disseminate updated assessments from the alliance on this page and through our member and public communications.

West Coast Health Alliance Continues to Endorse the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

On Jan. 5, 2026, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and significantly reduce the number of vaccinations routinely recommended for all U.S. children. This decision did not follow established procedure for vaccine policy recommendations and threatens an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in children nationwide. The West Coast Health Alliance continues to recommend the current American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which is based on established vaccine safety and effectiveness evidence. Learn more on the Washington State Department of Health website.

Subsequently, the WSMA and four other leading Washington state physician professional associations joined the West Coast Health Alliance in criticizing the CDC's reckless changes to the child immunization schedule. The associations—the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Infectious Diseases Society of Washington, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, and the Washington Chapter of the American College of Physicians—join the Department of Health and the West Coast Health Alliance in urging Washington families and health care practitioners to continue following the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for the health and well-being of their children and families. Read the press statement.

West Coast Health Alliance Continues to Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns

The West Coast Health Alliance strongly supports that hepatitis B vaccination continue to be routinely offered to all newborns, with the first dose of the vaccine given within 24 hours of birth for newborns weighing at least 2,000 grams (4 pounds, 7 ounces), followed by completion of the vaccine series. This recommendation aligns with trusted national medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recent vote to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination lacks credible evidence. Learn more on the Washington State Department of Health website.

2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season Immunization Recommendations

The West Coast Health Alliance issued immunization recommendations for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season covering COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. These recommendations are informed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The alliance recommendations, available here, provide a baseline for member states. The Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine recommendations build on this baseline. In September, the Department of Health issued a standing order advising everyone 6 months and older to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Now is the time to plan your vaccinations

The Department of Health encourages all Washington residents to protect themselves by getting updated vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and RSV if recommended. These vaccines are generally covered by insurance, including Washington Apple Health (Medicaid), or available at little to no cost through Washington's Childhood Vaccine Program for people under age 19, and through the Adult Vaccine Program for those ages 19 and older. It is safe to receive these vaccines at the same time.

Quick FAQ

Will access to COVID shots change in Washington?

No. Access should remain as it has in past years, with shots available at pharmacies and clinics for most people 6 months and older. As in previous years, patience is cautioned as pharmacies and vaccine providers may face vaccine shipping delays.

Will insurance continue to cover my COVID shot?

Yes. Most insurance plans in Washington have committed to covering the shots, including Apple Health, most Medicare plans, and private plans Premera Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Regence BlueShield and Aetna. 

When should I get vaccinated for protection from the fall and winter respiratory illness season?

Vaccine providers can now order updated shots from suppliers, which means the time is now to check with your local clinic or pharmacy for availability and to make an appointment, if needed. Last year, we saw high rates of respiratory illness and hospitalizations from the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Vaccines can help protect us from severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from these respiratory illnesses. Check your eligibility for each vaccine using the chart above before scheduling your appointment.

Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?

Yes. It's is important to get both vaccines as soon as you can. For those eligible for RSV vaccine, talk with your health care team about getting the RSV vaccine with other vaccines.

"Vaccines are the best protection we have against serious illness due to COVID-19, flu, and RSV, and they can also help reduce spread and ease pressure on our health care system. Our recommendations are designed to protect those most at risk, including young children, older adults, people who are pregnant, those living in group settings, and anyone who lives or works with vulnerable people." - Washington State Health Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD

About the West Coast Health Alliance

The West Coast Health Alliance formed to ensure that public health recommendations are guided by science, effectiveness, and safety at a time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leadership changes, reduced transparency, and the compromise of key advisory panels have called into question the federal government’s capacity to address the nation’s public health challenges.

The West Coast Health Alliance established a charter that lays out the shared principles and scope that guides its work. Learn more on the Washington State Department of Health website.