Reports recently emerged about a new variant of the COVID-19 virus spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom. According to the U.K. government, the new virus variant appears to transmit more easily than the previous COVID-19 strain, but no evidence exists indicating the new variant causes more severe disease or mortality. The U.S. Centers for Disease…
Read More »This week, the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) issued a policy brief on the COVID-19 vaccine entitled, “Building Trust in and Access to a COVID-19 Vaccine Among People of Color and Tribal Nations.” The policy brief follows a convening this fall among 40 leading health equity, healthcare, civil rights, and public health organizations. The purpose…
Read More »CHEAC Staff wishes all a very happy holidays and a happy new year! The CHEAC Weekly Update will take a brief hiatus during the next two weeks and will resume publication during the week of January 4, 2021.
Read More »This week, CHEAC welcomed a new staff person, Legislative Assistant Karla Ambriz. Karla received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis in June 2020, as well as completed an internship with Health Access California. Karla will play a key role in supporting CHEAC’s legislative advocacy efforts and internal organization operations. Her email address…
Read More »Following the issuance of an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late last week, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has begun arriving at dispensing points nationwide, including in California. Over the past weekend, the Western States Scientific Review Workgroup confirmed the Pfizer vaccine is safe and efficacious for distribution in…
Read More »This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for an at-home COVID-19 test, available to individuals without a prescription. The at-home test, Ellume, can be used by individuals ages 16 and older and children over the age of two if administered by an adult. The tests are rapid…
Read More »Upon arrival of the state’s first COVID-19 vaccine shipments, Governor Gavin Newsom launched the “Vaccinate All 58” campaign for safe, fair, and equitable vaccine distribution in all 58 California counties. As part of the “Vaccinate All 58” campaign, various communications tools and resources have been made available to jurisdictions statewide. The full press announcement from…
Read More »Amid an unprecedented increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon today announced the Legislature will delay its return to Sacramento by one week. Originally set to begin the legislative session on January 4, 2021, the Legislature will now convene in Sacramento on January 11,…
Read More »Within the past week, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced appointments to legislative and budget committees for the 2021-22 Legislative Session. Of note, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon formed the Committee on Emergency Management which will be chaired by Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez. Below, we highlight committees of interest to…
Read More »This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched a new public awareness campaign entitled “Mothers,” featuring real California mothers urging residents to stay at home this holiday season. The mothers featured in the campaign advocate that the best way to protect yourself and others is to stay home, wear a mask, wash your…
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