Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Officials Worry Nation’s Not Ready for COVID-19 Vaccine
As the nation awaits a vaccine to end the pandemic, local health departments say they lack the staff, money, tools ― and a unified plan ― to distribute, administer and track millions of vaccines, most of which will require two doses. Dozens of doctors, nurses and health officials interviewed by KHN and The Associated Press expressed their concern and frustration over federal shortcomings.
Oficiales de salud temen que el país no esté listo para una vacuna contra COVID-19
El camino para entregar vacunas a 330 millones de personas sigue sin estar claro para los funcionarios de salud locales que, se espera, sean los que realicen el trabajo.
Florida’s Cautionary Tale: How Starving and Muzzling Public Health Fueled COVID Fire
As the nation hollowed out its public health infrastructure for decades, staffing and funding fell faster and further in Florida. Then the coronavirus ran roughshod, infecting more than half a million people and killing thousands.
Cómo Florida drenó su sistema de salud pública y le abrió la puerta a COVID
A medida que la nación empezó a drenar su sistema de salud pública, personal y fondos cayeron más rápidamente en este estado, dejándolo desprotegido para la peor crisis de salud en un siglo.
Politics Slows Flow of US Pandemic Relief Funds to Public Health Agencies
Congress has allocated trillions of dollars to ease the coronavirus crisis. A joint KHN and AP investigation finds that many communities with big outbreaks have spent little of that federal money on local public health departments for work such as testing and contact tracing. Others, like Minnesota, were slow to do so. Bureaucracy has bogged things down, politics have crept into the process, and understaffed departments have struggled to take time away from critical needs to navigate the red tape required to justify asking for more money.
La política frena el flujo de fondos a las agencias para frenar la pandemia
Desde que comenzó la pandemia, el Congreso ha reservado miles de millones para aliviar la crisis. Pero parte de ese dinero no se ha distribuido, o gastado, apropiadamente.
Public Health Officials Are Quitting or Getting Fired Amid Pandemic
A review by KHN and the Associated Press finds at least 49 state and local public health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 23 states. One of the latest departures came Sunday, when California’s public health director was ousted.
Maryland County Pledges Investigation of Health Worker’s Coronavirus Death
The disease intervention specialist at the Prince George’s County Health Department was among at least 20 department employees infected by the coronavirus, union officials say. The outbreak underscores the stark dangers facing the nation’s front-line public health army.
Get the Data: Hollowed-Out Public Health System Faces More Cuts Amid Virus
We’re releasing our public health infrastructure data on Github for journalists, researchers and interested readers to use.
Listen: How the Pandemic Further Politicized Public Health
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber joined Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies on “The Source” show to talk about the politicization of public health during the COVID pandemic.