Vaccines

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a key figure in protests over California vaccine laws. He could set U.S. health policy in the Trump administration.

It’s a confusing time in the COVID pandemic. A new booster is on the way, but cases are rising and you might want more protection now.

The latest sign that California is easing out of the pandemic and into the endemic phase: The state has dropped its plan to require the COVID-19 vaccination for K-12 students as the state of emergency comes to an end Feb. 28, after nearly three years. That said — “we continue to strongly recommend COVID-19 immunization […]

Cash-strapped clinics provided thousands of mpox vaccines, but their reimbursements have been mired in red tape.

Although a California bill would have allowed vaccines for teens without parental consent made it to the final days of the legislative session, it failed to pass. Some legislators saw the bill as an “overreach” that undermined parental decisions.

While monkeypox vaccines are targeted to the state’s largest cities, where case numbers are highest, other communities are struggling to respond. In the Central Valley, public health officials are waiting for resources and trying to get information to residents seeking help.

Red tape, red tape, red tape. That was the refrain that popped up repeatedly on Tuesday, when California lawmakers convened for two separate hearings on the two viruses for which Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a public health state of emergency: COVID-19 and monkeypox. The key takeaway from the two hearings — which, ironically, took […]

Note: The newsletter will pause until Tuesday for the Juneteenth holiday. Thursday was a day of emotion and controversy at the California State Capitol — illuminating some of the issues likely to gain even more political intensity with just a month and a half left in the legislative session and the November general election looming […]

California lawmakers pass a bill to allow youths 12 and older to get vaccines without parental consent, despite lots of controversy.

The state decides it won't require COVID vaccines for children this fall, and a bill to mandate kids vaccines without personal belief exemptions stalls out.