Posts Tagged: vaccinations

News

Does bill limiting protests at vax sites violate First Amendment?

An April 2021 demonstration in Los Angeles against masks and vaccination requirements. (Photo: Michael Gordon via Shutterstock)

A proposal sailing through the California Legislature that aims to stop people from getting harassed outside of vaccination sites is raising alarms among some First Amendment experts. The measure was introduced after protesters briefly shut down a mass vaccination clinic at Dodger Stadium in January.

Opinion

Profit-driven quotas, long hours take toll on pharmacists

Pharmacists check the inventory at a hospital pharmacy. (Photo: Jacob Lund, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: When California began delivering millions of COVID-19 vaccines, we turned to neighborhood pharmacists to get shots in arms quickly and safely. These highly educated and trained medical professionals helped to protect our communities, making personal sacrifices to serve even though they already perform high-pressure jobs where mistakes may cost lives.

News

Lorena Gonzalez, a victor in major political fights

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez addressing lawmakers about her labor bill, AB 5. (Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez wrapped up this legislative year feeling pretty good about her accomplishments. Despite often fierce opposition, the San Diego Democrat was able to pass 11 pieces of legislation, including those that protect child sexual abuse survivors and workers.

News

California vaccination fight, Part 2

A youngster receives a vaccination., (Image: JPC-P:ROD, via Shutterstock)

Passions were high as a bill meant to tighten the state’s already strict child vaccination law was approved at its first policy hearing Wednesday before the senate health committee. Just four years after the state eliminated the personal beliefs exemption that allowed parents to skip vaccinations for their children, the new bill would require the state public health department to review all requests for exemptions for medical reasons.

Opinion

Vaccinations help seniors avoid health risks 

A nurse prepares to administer an influenza vaccine. (Photo: redpixel.pl, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: As the baby boomer generation ages, physicians like myself must begin to examine how we can improve the quality of life for one of the fastest growing demographics in the world. Too often, seniors in generally good health have their worlds shattered by preventable ailments. A sudden fall or common cold can set anyone back, but for someone over the age of 65, a preventable injury or illness may alter their health trajectory and quality of life entirely.

News

Brown OKs mandatory vaccinations

A youngster gets his vaccination shot. (Photo: Luiscar74, via Shutterstock)

Gov. Brown today signed one of the strictest laws in the nation requiring vaccinations for schoolchildren, saying “science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious diseases.” The new law bars parents from invoking religious or personal beliefs in order to keep their children from being vaccinated, but it does allow for an exemption with the approval of the child’s doctor.

News

Vaccination: Debunking the myths

A child getting vaccinated. (Photo: Thinkstock, Dimitry Naumov)

The Kaiser study found that, on an individual level, under-immunization—where a child misses one or more of the required doses before age 3—was higher in neighborhoods with more families in poverty as well as those with more graduate degrees. But even after adjusting for factors such as race and income, the study still found statistically significant geographic clusters of under-immunization.

News

Vaccination effort, ‘religious exemption’ at odds

Regulations implementing a new California law aimed at reducing the number of unvaccinated youngsters attending school may do just the opposite. A 2012 bill, which took effect Jan. 1, requires parents seeking an exemption from vaccinations against diseases like measles and whooping cough, to first talk with a health care provider about the risks and benefits of vaccines.

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