U.S. Supreme Court will not hear challenge to New York vaccine law The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a challenge to a New York state law that mandates all children be vaccinated before they can attend public school. This decision leaves in place a federal appeals court ruling that said the New York Law does not violate the constitution. That decision also upheld a trial court ruling that found that children with religious exemptions could still be prohibited from attending school if there is a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak. While this ruling only affects the states within the second circuit appellate court, ... November 9, 2015 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up It is difficult to imagine, but the 2015 legislative year was even more challenging than 2014, which included the diversion of staff resources to defeat the trial lawyers’ Proposition 46. From the hard-fought victory of Senate Bill 277—a bill that eliminates the personal belief exemption for schoolchildren—to the full court press in the final day of the legislative session to eliminate Assembly Bill 533—a bill that would have allowed a massive transfer of negotiating power to health plans at the expense of physicians—the California Medical Association (CMA) worked through ... October 14, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, State Legislative Advocacy, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC says flu vaccine better match for 2015 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the flu shot available to the public this year is a much better match for the flu virus that is expected to circulate during this year's flu season. Last season’s vaccine did not protect against a particular strain of H3N2 flu virus – known as the "Switzerland variant” – causing the vaccine's effectiveness rate against the H3N2 strain to be only about 13 percent. In an effort to get it right in 2015, scientists scrutinized 199 flu specimens collected in ... September 23, 2015 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Flu, Vaccination, CDC, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Survey finds increased parental vaccine acceptance in aftermath of California measles outbreak A survey conducted by Medscape found that fewer parents may be refusing to vaccinate their children in the aftermath of the California measles outbreak, especially in western states, which have had some of the highest refusal rates in America. According to the Medscape Vaccine Acceptance Report, an online survey of 1,577 pediatricians, family physicians, public health physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants that was conducted last month, 42 percent of clinicians said they believed more parents are accepting vaccines and 38 percent said parents are more accepting of the measles ... August 28, 2015 General Measles, Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
August is National Immunization Awareness Month Each year in August, National Immunization Awareness Month provides an opportunity for providers to highlight the value of immunization across all ages. Activities focus on encouraging people to protect their health by being vaccinated against infectious diseases. The National Public Health Information Coalition has developed, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Immunization Awareness Month Communication Toolkits to help providers communicate with their patients about the importance of vaccination. Toolkits are available for four separate age spans: Preteens and Teens Pregnant ... August 6, 2015 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH warns of ongoing pertussis risk The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently warned about the ongoing danger of pertussis (whooping cough). According to state public health officials, pertussis continues to spread at above-normal levels in California following last year's epidemic, when reported disease rates were the highest they've been since the 1950s. Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications in infants, especially within the first six months of life. The disease has already caused one infant death and at least 126 infant hospitalizations in California this year. Physicians are reminded that the best ... August 6, 2015 General Immunization, Pertussis, Public Health, Vaccination, Whooping Cough, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccine bill passes through state Assembly and Senate; heads to Gov. Brown for signature A widely supported vaccination bill cleared its second house in the California legislature on Thursday, and passed through the Senate again today. Senate Bill 277, which passed through the Assembly Health Committee on June 9, was approved on the Assembly floor with a 46-30 vote. Today the bill was approved on the Senate floor with a 24-14 vote. The bill’s next stop is the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. “Overwhelmingly, doctors will tell us that vaccines are one of the greatest health achievements in all of mankind,” Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ... July 6, 2015 General Advocacy, Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Bill 277 Clears Assembly Sacramento — Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with overwhelming 46-30 approval. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. “The California Medical Association (CMA) would like to thank the Assemblymembers who supported this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe,” CMA President Luther F. Cobb, M.D., said. “Diseases that were once declared eradicated have resurfaced in recent years and SB 277 will help to ... June 26, 2015 General Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, Advocacy, I Heart Immunity, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccination bill clears Asembly Health Committee after nearly five hours of discussion, testimony Senate Bill 277, which would bar parents from skipping school vaccination requirements due to personal philosophies, passed its first test in the state Assembly on Tuesday. Policymakers in the Assembly Health Committee approved the bill on a 12-6 vote. SB 277 would allow only medical exemptions for children entering public school by removing the option to file a personal belief exemption (PBE). The bill would not pertain to families who homeschool or utilize independent study. As in previous hearings, both proponents and opponents of SB 277 filled up the room to ... June 26, 2015 General Advocacy, Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Strong majority of Californians support requiring vaccinations for school children Some of the key findings in a statewide survey published on June 3 showed that a majority of those surveyed agreed with Senate Bill 277 (Pan), a bill sponsored by the California Medical Association that would eliminate personal belief exemptions and require parents to vaccinate their children before enrolling them in school. According to a survey released yesterday by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), two-thirds of Californians (67 percent) and public school parents (65 percent) say children should not be allowed to attend unless they are vaccinated. Majorities ... June 15, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, Advocacy, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
