Oregon Joins Governors’ Public Health Alliance to Bolster Vaccine and Health Preparedness

Oregon has joined 14 other states in a newly launched Governors Public Health Alliance aimed at rapid coordination and response to inter-state public health threats.

The nonpartisan initiative will serve as a cross-state liaison to coordinate executive actions governors take to strengthen protective measures, such as access to COVID-19 vaccines. It is supported by GovAct to enable governors direct collaboration with public health leaders nationwide.

GovAct is a nonpartisan nonprofit that champions initiatives that improve lives and serves as a central platform for collaboration across governors’ offices.

Governor Says the Alliance Ensures Health Protection for all Oregonians

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said in a statement yesterday that the alliance will ensure that ‘every Oregonian has access to the care, information, and the protection they need.’

The Governors Public Health Alliance will build on the work of the West Coast Health Alliance, which was recently established by the governors of Oregon, California, and Washington, to safeguard access to vaccines.

Their move followed major changes instituted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Robert F. Kennedy, a self-proclaimed skeptic of vaccinations, after his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Apart from Oregon, the other 14 partners in the alliance are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, and the unincorporated territory of Guam.

Kotek says that by joining forces, Oregon has ensured it will remain connected to cutting-edge best medical practices, will have access to critical information, and will help to shape consistent, science-based public health strategies to protect its communities.

By partnering together, the 15 members in the Governors Public Health Alliance will ensure access to tools, expert briefings, and coordinated policies to prove preparedness and response to emerging health threats.

Kotek says joining the Alliance reinforces Oregon’s commitment to ‘working beyond its borders to ensure regional and national preparedness.’