Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 144, which authorizes vaccinations to be provided based on recommendations of the California Department of Public Health. This ensures that COVID-19, Influenza and RSV vaccines remain accessible throughout the state.
As a result, California health care providers are immediately able to provide vaccinations based on these recommendations. Residents should check on availability with their local pharmacy or health care provider.
These recommendations are formulated based on review of trusted national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
These recommendations also align with the shared principles of the West Coast Health Alliance which includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. These states entered into a partnership to form the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA). The Alliance will work together to ensure health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access and trust, and develop medical guidance from subject matter experts, national medical organizations and others based on science and evidence-based research.
Dr. Sherilynn Cooke, Nevada County health officer, said, “The establishment of the Western States Health Alliance and the passage of California Assembly Bill 144 will ensure that Californians will have access to immunizations based on the best medical evidence from trusted professional medical organizations.”
To see the California Department of Public Health vaccine recommendations for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season, visit https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-011.aspx.