California issues update to reaffirm that vaccines are not linked to autism – California State Portal | CA.gov

Report on Public Health Integrity and the West Coast Health Alliance Initiative

Introduction: A Challenge to Sustainable Development Goal 3

This report details the response of the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) to actions by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that undermine established public health science. These events present a significant challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. The WCHA’s actions exemplify a commitment to science-based policy, a cornerstone of SDG 3 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Erosion of National Public Health Guidance

Federal Misinformation and its Impact on SDG 3

Recent actions at the federal level have threatened progress on key public health targets integral to the Sustainable Development Goals.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., updated its official guidance to suggest a causal link between vaccines and autism, a claim unsubstantiated by scientific evidence.
• This dissemination of misinformation directly contravenes the objectives of SDG 3, particularly Target 3.3 (end the epidemics of communicable diseases), by creating vaccine hesitancy.
• The lack of clear, evidence-based federal leadership has led to confusion among healthcare providers and the public, jeopardizing national health security and vaccination programs.

Undermining Institutional Integrity (SDG 16)

The credibility and effectiveness of the CDC, a critical public health institution, have been compromised. This institutional decay is a direct threat to SDG 16, which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

1. All 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices were removed, sidelining long-trusted scientific bodies.
2. This has impaired the agency’s capacity to prepare for public health challenges, as evidenced by the rise in measles infections to new highs since the disease’s eradication in 2000.
3. Such actions weaken the institutional frameworks necessary to protect public health and well-being.

The West Coast Health Alliance: A Regional Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

Formation and Mandate

In response to the federal vacuum, the states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii formed the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA). This regional partnership, an example of SDG 17 in action, is committed to upholding scientific principles in public health.

• Mission: To ensure public health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust.
• Objective: To safeguard scientific expertise by aligning immunization recommendations with those of respected national medical organizations.
• Goal: To provide consistent, science-based recommendations to the public, ensuring that policy is informed by trusted scientists and clinicians.

WCHA Statement on Vaccine Science

The Alliance issued a formal statement to counter the CDC’s claims and reaffirm its commitment to evidence-based health policy, directly supporting SDG 3 and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing accurate information.

• The WCHA strongly recommends vaccines, citing decades of rigorous research involving millions of people that proves vaccines are not linked to autism.
• It states that suggesting a single cause for a complex neurodevelopmental condition like autism is a disservice to families and potentially harmful to autistic individuals.
• The Alliance encourages families to seek information from trusted health care providers and reputable organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure equitable access to accurate knowledge, a principle of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals, primarily focusing on public health, the integrity of institutions, and collaborative efforts.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire discussion revolves around public health, specifically the importance of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases like measles, and the danger of misinformation that undermines public health efforts. The article states, “Vaccines are thoroughly tested and remain one of the most important tools for preventing infectious diseases.”

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article addresses the role and effectiveness of public institutions. It critiques the CDC for its “reduced transparency, and the sidelining of long-trusted advisory bodies,” which has “impaired the agency’s capacity.” This points to the need for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions. The formation of the West Coast Health Alliance is a direct response to the perceived failure of a key federal institution.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is centered on the creation and actions of the “West Coast Health Alliance,” a partnership formed by “California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.” This alliance was established to “coordinate health guidelines” and “ensure that public health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve common health goals.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the content of the article, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed.

• Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. The article’s core theme is promoting vaccination and countering misinformation to ensure the public continues to trust and access this essential health service.
  • Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for communicable… diseases… provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines. The article’s strong defense of vaccines, which are a product of extensive research, and the concern over rising measles infections (“Measles infections have even reached new highs”) directly relate to the goal of using vaccines to combat communicable diseases.
  • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article discusses the CDC’s failure to manage public health challenges and the WCHA’s formation to provide “clear, evidence-based guidance” as a way to manage the health risks posed by misinformation and disease outbreaks.

• Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article criticizes the CDC’s “reduced transparency” and leadership changes that have “impaired the agency’s capacity.” In contrast, it highlights that the WCHA was formed to “safeguard scientific expertise” and ensure recommendations are guided by “transparency, access, and trust.”
  • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information… The central conflict in the article is about providing the public with “credible, evidence-based science” versus the “dangerous misinformation” and “inaccurate claims” posted by the CDC. The WCHA’s mission is to provide “clear, evidence-based guidance to people living in its states.”

• Targets under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The article explains that through the WCHA partnership, the four states will “coordinate health guidelines by aligning immunization recommendations” to ensure people “receive consistent, science-based recommendations… regardless of shifting federal actions.”
  • Target 17.16: Enhance the… multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise… The West Coast Health Alliance itself is the embodiment of this target, being a partnership of four states created to “share knowledge, expertise” and “work with public health leaders across the country.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets, even if it does not provide specific quantitative data.

• Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

  • Vaccination Coverage Rates: While not stated numerically, the entire article is premised on the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. The concern about misinformation implies a risk of falling coverage, which is a key indicator for Target 3.8 and 3.b.
  • Incidence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: The article explicitly mentions that “Measles infections have even reached new highs under the Trump Administration since America eradicated the disease in 2000.” The number of measles cases serves as a direct, negative indicator of progress in managing public health risks (Target 3.d).

• Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

  • Public Trust in Health Institutions: The article implies this indicator by contrasting the failing trust in the CDC due to its “sidelining of long-trusted advisory bodies” with the WCHA’s goal of ensuring recommendations are guided by “trust.” Surveys measuring public trust would be a relevant indicator for Target 16.6.
  • Prevalence of Science-Based Public Health Information: The conflict between “dangerous misinformation” and “credible, evidence-based science” suggests an indicator related to the accuracy and accessibility of public health information, which is central to Target 16.10.

• Indicators for SDG 17 Targets

  • Existence and Functionality of Multi-State Health Partnerships: The formation and active operation of the West Coast Health Alliance is a direct indicator of progress towards Target 17.16.
  • Number of Aligned Public Health Policies: The WCHA’s stated goal to “coordinate health guidelines by aligning immunization recommendations” provides a clear, measurable indicator for policy coherence (Target 17.14).

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gov.ca.gov