News Summary
A coalition of health organizations in Nevada is pushing Governor Joe Lombardo to join the West Coast Health Alliance, aimed at addressing public health concerns and improving vaccination rates. This request arises amid rising fears regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, leading to downtrends in preventive measures. Alarmed by low vaccination rates, particularly among children, the coalition underscores the potential risks to the healthcare system and state economy. While Lombardo has not yet responded, there are indications of possible openness to aligning with health initiatives.
Las Vegas, Nevada – A coalition of health organizations in Nevada is urging Governor Joe Lombardo to join the West Coast Health Alliance, a group created to address growing public health concerns along the western U.S. coast amid debates over vaccine safety and efficacy. This request comes in light of rising apprehensions surrounding vaccination rates and preventable diseases in Nevada.
The West Coast Health Alliance, which includes the governors of California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, was established on September 3, 2025. It aims to prioritize science-based public health decisions, intending to protect communities and their economies from outbreaks of preventable diseases. A letter advocating for Nevada’s participation in this initiative was sent to Governor Lombardo and made public by Dr. Brian Labus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Public Health.
The letter was signed by nine significant health organizations within the state, including the Nevada Academy of Family Physicians and the Nevada State Medical Association. It articulates that the alliance was formed in response to political interference in health policy by the Trump administration and former HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy’s approach to health policy changes has faced criticism for being devoid of scientific backing, most notably regarding vaccine safety and efficacy.
Amid this debate, recent actions taken by Former President Trump have sparked further uncertainty over public health decisions. His controversial comments linking Tylenol usage to rising autism rates and expressing unwarranted fears about vaccines have heightened concerns among health professionals about the direction public health policies could take.
The West Coast Health Alliance recently released its winter vaccine recommendations, which do not align with those from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The situation has worsened within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), following the dismissal of advisory committee members appointed by Kennedy, many of whom were replaced by individuals with vaccine skepticism.
In light of these developments, the coalition is alarmed by the low vaccination rates in Nevada, which currently rank the state last in the nation, with approximately 42% of children and teenagers vaccinated. Alarmingly, only 20.2% of Nevadans received the flu vaccine during the 2024-2025 season, showing a slight decline from the previous season. Kindergarten vaccination rates have also dipped, from 88% in 2023 to 87.2% in 2024.
Health organizations warn that such low vaccination rates could lead to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, which would stress the healthcare system. The coalition underscores that outbreaks of preventable diseases could negatively impact educational institutions, workforce availability, and tourism in Southern Nevada, vital components of the state’s economy.
Despite the coalition’s advocacy, Governor Lombardo’s office has not yet replied to the request for Nevada to join the West Coast Health Alliance. While Lombardo is seen as a supporter of former President Trump, he has occasionally expressed dissent on separate health policy matters, indicating a potential openness to aligning with public health initiatives.
The West Coast Health Alliance represents a collective regional effort to preserve the integrity of public health policies in the face of sweeping federal changes. The coalition of Nevada health organizations believes that the state’s existing health policies may fail to adequately protect residents, given the troubling trend of low vaccination rates.
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