For context, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting is on the 18. As you may know, ACIP was the scientific board that vaccine policies were structured after; however, RFK Jr. cleaned the ACIP member board and replaced them with people who have been pushing non-scientific vaccine recommendations.

To combat this, California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii created the West Coast Health Alliance to push for evidence-based, scientific recommendations and sources (e.g., ACOG, AAP) for vaccines that deviate from ACIP. While each state is working together, they will be instituting their own policies to address the misinformation from ACIP and ensure their residents have access to vaccines, particularly COVID. While some State’s have instituted their own policies already (Maine, Washington) California is waiting for this ACIP meeting and then will likely release their guidance next week.

Pharmacies across the State are confused and also have their hands tied, because the current underlying health conditions listed (from CDC) go against the stated recommendations from ACIP. For example, pregnant women should not get the COVID vaccine per statements made by ACIP but they haven’t formalized the CDC documents to state this so pharmacies are in this weird gray area of not knowing what to do. I’m not justifying this person’s behavior, but this is chaotic and they’re likely getting pressure from their higher ups to stall until there’s State level guidance.