CA issues its own vaccine recommendations as RFK shifts the policy

From Anna B. Ibara and ChristenCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

In anticipation of restrictive federal immunization rules, state health officials have issued their own guidelines for Wednesday vaccination, recommending all Californians 6 months and older ones seeking protection from the Covid-19 virus to receive the updated vaccine this season.

Governor Gavin Newsom and State Health Officers released the recommendations As part of the newly formed state health union with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Leading medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists, have informed the recommendations, according to the state’s statement. At the same time, signed Newsom Assembly A assembly 144Which, among several things, requires insurance plans to cover the vaccines that the state approves.

“We are here to protect our communities,” said Dr. Erika Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health, before Calmatters. “Many of us have devoted our lives to this. We feel really strong and want to show our unity” as medical, scientific and public health experts.

Pharmacies across the country have started distributing the vaccine in recent weeks, but anecdotes and News reveal a patchwork of accessWith some people who have no difficulty in receiving the shot, while others still cannot receive it.

Last month the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of an updated Covid-19 vaccine But only for the elderly and for people aged 5 to 64, who have a basic condition that puts them at a high risk of complications from Covid-19 infection. This is more restrictive than in previous years, when the Federal Drug Agency approved the vaccine for almost all. Leading medical groups and some states immediately pulled away from the agency’s decision.

California’s leadership comes just two days before a key meeting, where the Federal Vaccine Panel will review the updated Covid-19 vaccine. Public Health experts envisage this panel to limit access to the vaccine.

This is because the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, junior who is, who is, Known for the anti-vaxine activismIn June rejected All 17 members of this composition, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in US Disease Control Centers. He replaced them with 12 new members, some of which are documented skeptics for vaccines.

Usually, after the FDA approves the vaccine for use, this federal committee makes recommendations who should be immunized. In the past, insurers founded the scope of their vaccine on the instructions issued by this group.

Pan said California’s actions are necessary because the credibility of the committee is “compromised”. Now, with the individual directions of the state, the recommendations of CDC Group will not bear a weight to Californians.

“Whatever comes out (this committee), our new law is independent of it,” Pan said.

Easier access to state rules

The new law, accompanying the state’s independent guidance, guarantees that most Californians will be able to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, including young children, pregnant people and those without basic medical conditions, said Dorit Reis, Professor in the UC San Francisco Act and an expert on the legal vaccine right. This is partly because it allows pharmacists to independently prescribe and administer the shot while the State Health Department recommends it.

Many people rely on pharmacies for seasonal vaccines such as the flu shot and a Covid-19 booster, Reis said. Now, if someone who does not meet the higher federal guidance goes to CV or Walgreens will not need a separate doctor’s prescription.

The law also provides the State Health Department with a wide body because of other vaccine policies. Many of the laws of immunization of the state, including a schedule of school vaccines, insurance requirements and the authorization of the prescribing physician, were also bound by recommendations made by the CDC Advisory Committee. The recommendations of the State Health Department now have an advantage.

According to these new policies, the department will be able to respond to future threats to the availability of vaccine and access, Pan said.

“We predict that there may be other problems that we would like to unite again,” she added.

He also comes against the background of the messages that Kennedy intends to change childhood vaccine scheduleS

Pan said that California and other states in the Alliance will establish the recommendations for immunization of work done by “reliable medical groups” that have been evaluating the safety of vaccines for years.

Insurers to cover state vaccines

Most Californians have insurance through state regulated health plans that now have to cover the updated Covid-19 shot without emergency. The new law also requires Medi-Cal, the state insurance program for low-income residents and people with disabilities to cover the Covid-19 shot and other vaccines recommended by the State Health Department.

Mary Ellen Grant, a spokesman for the California Association of Health Plans, said changes in state policy “will significantly reduce the size of confusion” among patients and will ensure that they have access to vaccinations.

Around 5.4 million Californians Have an insurance that is subject to federal provisions, not state -owned. Overall, these are people who work for large, multi -state or multinational companies. Nationally, insurers have been Hesitant to make statements about the coverage of the vaccine Before the CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee, leaving the coverage of people with federally regulated plans uncertain.

However, said Reis, she expects insurers to continue to cover the vaccines, despite the future changes made by the CDC Advisory Committee. It is much more cheap for insurers to pay for vaccines than to pay for the treatment of the diseases they prevent.

The state’s partnership with Hawaii, Oregon and Washington also creates market pressure on insurers to continue the vaccine coverage, Reis said.

“They can just say,” This is a large part of the population. We can also have the same policy throughout the country, “she added.

Vaccines continue to be a major protection

The deployment of this year’s vaccine coincides with a moderate jump of Covid-19 infections. Data from the California Department of Public Health shows that the cases have been ranked from July. As of September 6, 11.72% of the tests sent for testing are positive, slightly higher than this time last year.

Public health staff say that the best way to stay healthy this fall and winter is to get vaccinated.

In addition to the Covid-19 vaccine, the immunization guidelines in California also recommend all 6 months and older to receive the flu. Vaccine to prevent respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is recommended for all babies more than 8 months and for babies between 8 months and 19 months if they carry risk factorsS The RSV vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women 32 weeks to 36 weeks of pregnancy and for all adults 75 years and more, as well as for those aged 50 to 74 years with comorbidities.

“If we want to make America healthy, not to cure diseases, we want to prevent diseases and well, vaccination is one of the best creations to prevent disease,” he said. Dr. Jeffrey Silvers, a specialist in infectious diseases at Sutter Health. “Right there with clean water in terms of disease prevention.”

Supported by the California Foundation for Health (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the necessary care when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.