The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is widely anticipated to issue its first emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at any point in the coming days. Yesterday, during a day-long meeting, the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) deliberated the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidate, ultimately…
Read More »Early this week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of several top officials to health-related posts, including the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). Notably, Tómas Aragón was named the Director and State Public Health Officer of CDPH. Aragón…
Read More »On Monday, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris announced their selections to lead their health and human services team, including response efforts to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The following were named to posts in the incoming federal administration: Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra was…
Read More »The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) this week issued guidance to local health departments (LHDs) detailing COVID-19 workplace outbreak reporting requirements mandated by AB 685 (Chapter 84, Statutes of 2020). Under the new law set to take effect on January 1, 2021, employers must notify employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and…
Read More »Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a health alert, highlighting the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on individuals with chronic health conditions. According to national surveillance data, COVID-19 can lead to severe outcomes in adults with underlying chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. Local health departments are…
Read More »On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the statewide expansion of CA Notify, the state’s digital tool to assist in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Starting yesterday, December 10, California residents can opt-in to receive COVID-19 notifications informing them if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. CA Notify was developed…
Read More »This week, California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris issued Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General’s Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, and Health. The report is the first produced by the Office of the California Surgeon General and serves as a blueprint for how communities, states, and nations can recognize and effectively address…
Read More »The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently announced California’s Title V 2019 Annual Report and 2021 Application is now available on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) website. The state’s application and annual report are accessible here. The state action plan table is available here.
Read More »On Thursday, the State of California announced a regional stay-at-home order in light of alarming rises in COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations throughout the state. The order, issued by Acting State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan, requires additional sector restrictions in a region when intensive care unit (ICU) capacity among hospitals in that region…
Read More »On Monday, December 7, the California Legislature will convene in Sacramento to formally commence the 2021-22 Legislative Session. During Monday’s session, elected lawmakers will be sworn into the Senate and Assembly. Notably, the desk will open on Monday, allowing Senators and Assembly Members to introduce their first measures of the new legislative session. Given the…
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