Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Without Enough Boots on the Ground, California’s Vaccination Efforts Falter
California’s vaccination rates have stagnated, particularly in Black and Latino inner-city neighborhoods and in rural towns. County health officials, who say trust is their most important commodity, need more money for one-on-one interactions with holdouts, but the state has instead largely funneled money to advertising firms and tech companies. (Angela Hart, )
Delta Variant Spreading Fast In California: The Delta variant is now the third most common in California, new data show. The variant makes up 14.5% of California coronavirus cases analyzed so far in June, up from 4.7% in May. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
Don't Gather For July Fourth If You're Unvaccinated, Sonoma County Says: Sonoma County is asking people who haven't been vaccinated to refrain from gathering this holiday weekend. “If you’re unvaccinated, it’s just as if it were last summer for you,” said Dr. Sundari Mase, the county’s health officer. “Just go and get vaccinated.” Read more from The Press Democrat.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage. For today's national health news, read KHN's Morning Briefing.
More News From Across The State
The New York Times:
A Study Finds That The Pfizer And Moderna Vaccines Could Offer Protection For Years
The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna set off a persistent immune reaction in the body that may protect against the coronavirus for years, scientists reported on Monday. The findings add to growing evidence that most people immunized with the mRNA vaccines may not need boosters, so long as the virus and its variants do not evolve much beyond their current forms — which is not guaranteed. People who recovered from Covid-19 before being vaccinated may not need boosters even if the virus does make a significant transformation. (Mandavilli, 6/28)
Bay Area News Group:
California Now Averaging Fewer Than 100,000 Daily COVID Vaccinations
California’s rate of vaccination against COVID-19 keeps slowing down, with more than a quarter of eligible residents still not vaccinated. California is averaging 91,783 daily shots as of Thursday, according to data from the state’s Department of Public Health. That’s a 26 percent decline from the previous week’s average, and a significant drop from April 24, when the state was averaging 365,686 daily shots. California’s daily vaccination average increased slightly shortly after introducing its vaccine lottery, which included cash prizes for inoculated residents. (Castaneda, 6/26)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Lost Hills Reaches Exceptional Vaccination Rate With Help Of The Wonderful Co.
A sustained effort by one of Kern's largest private employers has helped produce one of the county's highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the remote town of Lost Hills. The county Public Health Services Department on Friday credited Los Angeles-based grower The Wonderful Co. for Lost Hills being one of only five areas in Kern that has achieved U.S. President Joe Biden's goal of having no less than 70 percent of adults receive at least one shot of the vaccine by Independence Day. (Cox, 6/27)
San Francisco Chronicle:
This Bay Area County Sorts COVID Into Vaccinated And Unvaccinated. It's 'a Tale Of Two Counties'
Contra Costa is the first county in the Bay Area to publicly break out new coronavirus cases among vaccinated and unvaccinated residents, and the numbers show a stark disparity — virtually all those now being infected have not gotten their shots. As of Friday, the daily average of new cases in Contra Costa County over the previous week among those who have been fully vaccinated was 0.6 per 100,000 residents. But it was 6 per 100,000 among those who are not inoculated — 10 times higher. (Vaziri, 6/26)
Southern California News Group:
Younger California Kids: To Vax Or Not To Vax? That Is The Question
Come fall, parents of elementary schoolchildren will make a decision that’s weightier than which backpack to buy for the new school year: Deputize Junior as a foot soldier in the war against COVID-19’s spread in the U.S. and get the child vaccinated? Or sit this one out with the knowledge that younger kids are far less likely to get severe illness than their grandparents? As school bells ring in September, data from clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine on children ages 5 to 11 are expected to go to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization. Moderna’s trials in younger kids are not far behind. (Sforza, 6/28)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern County Superior Court Won't Require Masks For Vaccinated
Starting Monday, Kern County Superior Court will no longer require people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a face mask to enter the courthouses, but still encourages masks. People entering courthouses without a mask will be considered to have self-attested that they are fully vaccinated; proof can be requested, according to a court news release. (6/26)
inewsource:
Three Post-Vaccination COVID Deaths Confirmed In San Diego County
At least three San Diego County residents have died of COVID-19 after being vaccinated, according to county officials and medical examiner records. The county announced earlier this month the death of a fully vaccinated woman. She was 70 and died in March after being hospitalized. At the time it was considered the first such death, but medical examiner records obtained by inewsource show a 73-year-old vaccinated man at the county-run Edgemoor Hospital in Santee died of COVID-19 on Feb. 2. (Plummer, 6/26)
LA Daily News:
LA County Reports 239 New Coronavirus Cases; Concern Endures Over Infectious 'Delta' Variant
Los Angeles County reported 239 new cases of COVID-19 and three additional deaths on Sunday, June 27, though the number of cases and deaths likely reflect reporting delays over the weekend. Sunday’s figures brought the county’s totals to 1,249,304 cases and 24,477 fatalities since the pandemic began, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said. According to state figures, there were 238 people hospitalized in the county due to COVID-19 as of Sunday, up from 231 on Saturday. There were 52 COVID patients in intensive care, down from 55 the previous day. (6/27)
Orange County Register:
Disneyland Brings Back Single Rider Lines For Most Popular Attractions
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have brought back single rider lines on some of the most popular rides for the first time since the Anaheim theme parks reopened. Single rider lines returned today, June 26 at Disneyland and DCA. State guidelines discouraged the use of single-rider lines when theme parks initially reopened starting April 1 because they were “likely inconsistent with physical distancing,” but capacity limits and social distancing requirements were lifted June 15. (MacDonald, 6/26)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Coronavirus: Timeline Of The COVID-19 Outbreak Across The Bay Area, California, U.S.
The Chronicle began covering the coronavirus crisis before the first cases were reported in the Bay Area and a pandemic was declared in 2020. We reorganized the newsroom to dedicate nearly every resource toward stories focusing on the health and economic disasters. Every day we have published live updates to reflect the most critical local, national and global updates on COVID-19 in an effort to keep our community safe and informed. Below is a comprehensive timeline of The Chronicle’s live updates coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, which includes thousands of news items as they happened. (6/27)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Where Are Drugs To Beat COVID - And The Next Pandemic?
Even with powerful vaccines in hand and the coronavirus waning across most of the United States, there’s still an urgent need for drugs to treat COVID-19 — and that could lay the foundation for the next generation of therapies for pandemics, say Bay Area scientists conducting such research. Drug therapies were an early focus in the pandemic, when it wasn’t clear how long it would take to develop effective vaccines. But while vaccine development has been enormously successful, thanks in large part to the federal government’s $18 billion investment, drug treatments have been disappointingly elusive. (Allday, 6/27)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California's Power Grid May Issue Flex Alert As Scorching Temperatures Hit California
Scorching temperatures baking some parts of California may mean that state residents will be asked to voluntarily conserve energy, officials said Sunday. A heat bulletin from the California Independent System Operator said officials might issue a flex alert and ask consumers “to reduce electricity use during critical times of stress on the [power] grid.” (Flores, 6/27)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Far North Residents Told To Be Ready To Flee Fire As Needed
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office alerted people living north of Weed to be prepared to evacuate the area as the Lava Fire grew Sunday to 410 acres. One of four fires started by lightening in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest late last week, the Lava Fire was initially contained but then broke out and began spreading, according to Suzi Johnson, a spokesperson with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. (Dizikes, 6/27)
Sacramento Bee:
California ISO Won’t Issue Flex Alert Monday Amid Heat Wave
California’s largest electrical grid operator changed course Sunday after saying it could issue a Flex Alert on Monday, which would have asked residents to voluntarily conserve energy as a heat wave pushes demand on the grid. The California Independent System Operator, which manages about 80% of the state’s energy supply, said in a statement issued Sunday afternoon that it was “poised to call” a Flex Alert on Monday due to high temperatures which have been pushing residential air conditioning units into overdrive this month. (Moleski, 6/27)
CalMatters:
A California Town Is Without Running Water Amid Drought
This is how California’s water crisis is going these days: The only functioning well in the rural community of Teviston broke in early June, leaving more than 700 residents without running water as temperatures in the Central Valley soared to triple-digits in a drought. “It’s day to day” for the people of Teviston, said Frank Galaviz, a board member of the Teviston Community Services District, in an interview with The Fresno Bee. (Montalvo, 6/28)
AP:
California Budget Boosts Health Care For Older Immigrants
California will soon pay the health care bills for low-income people 50 and older who are living in the country illegally, part of an expansion of Medicaid that aims to inch the nation’s most populous state toward Democrats’ goal of making sure everyone has health insurance. The new coverage will eventually cost taxpayers about $1.3 billion per year, money that’s part of the new state operating budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders unveiled Friday night. The budget is scheduled for a vote in the state Legislature on Monday, with Newsom likely signing it into law before the state’s fiscal year begins Thursday. (Beam, 6/26)
Sacramento Bee:
CA Lawmakers To Vote On Budget With Surplus, Stimulus Checks
California lawmakers plan to pass a 2021 state budget that reflects a partial deal with Newsom on most key issues, including $8 billion in stimulus checks for middle-income Californians and expanded funding for homeless aid. Newsom and lawmakers have not yet announced a final deal on the state budget, but legislative leaders released a summary document Friday that says they’ve reached agreement on most areas, including on expanding coverage to more undocumented immigrants. (Bollag, 6/28)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Palomar Health Signs Doctor Contract
Palomar Health said in a statement Friday that its chief executive officer has signed an emergency department staffing agreement with Emergent Medical Associates and expects to complete two additional agreements early next week. Palomar said that 32 of its 50 staff emergency doctors have signed on with EMA, quite a development given no-confidence votes Wednesday from physician leadership at the health system’s hospitals in Escondido and Poway. (Sisson, 6/25)
Daily Breeze/Orange County Register:
How This Mobile Healthcare Unit Represents The Last Mile Of The Coronavirus Pandemic
As vice president of operations for a shipping company in Valencia, Marco Pelaez did everything he could to keep his employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic, from mandatory testing, social distancing, issuing personal protective gear and allowing employees to take time off for even the slightest illness. But when it came time to get vaccinated, many of the 400 employees at AMS Fulfillment were resistant for various reasons, Pelaez said. (Rosenfeld, 6/27)
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Healdsburg Nonprofit Doubles Down On Health Equity
Vaccination clinics. Mental health awareness. Care for the unhoused. Grants for grassroots groups. In Healdsburg, one nonprofit has spent the better part of the COVID-19 pandemic managing all these important programs. The nonprofit, the 20-year-old Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County, now finds itself at the center of a series of collaborations with health care providers all over the north county — partnerships that are having major impacts on county residents who need services most. (Villano, 6/26)
KQED:
There's Only 1 Drug For Postpartum Depression. Why Does Kaiser Permanente Make It So Hard To Get?
When Miriam McDonald decided she wanted to have another baby at age 44, her doctor told her she had a better chance of winning the lottery. So when she got pregnant, she and her husband were thrilled. But within three days of giving birth to their son, everything turned. As the weeks went by, her depression got worse. She felt sad, but also indifferent. She didn’t want to hold her baby, she didn’t want to change him. She said she felt no connection with him at all. (Dembosky, 6/28)
Los Angeles Times:
California Governor Candidate John Cox's Homelessness Plan
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox is revealing his plan to reduce homelessness as he launches a statewide bus tour Monday in Los Angeles. Unlike his last major media effort, this one won’t feature a 1,000-pound Kodiak bear; rather, Cox plans to bring along an 8-foot ball of garbage as he lays out how he would cut homelessness in half over the next decade. (Mehta, 6/27)