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Stay up to date on vaccines for best protection during the holidays
The California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, is reminding all Californians that vaccines against respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are the most effective and safest ways to protect themselves against severe illness this winter.
Last month, CDPH, in coordination with the West Coast Health Alliance, or WCHA, announced its recommendations on winter virus immunizations.
In response to confusion and a lack of evidence-based changes from the federal government, California updated its state coverage laws to ensure continued access to vaccinations.
The state’s new Public Health for All website provides clear guidance based on transparent and science-based information from the nation’s most reputable professional medical organizations.
“Prioritizing transparency and a reliance on science continues to be a core value in our mission to provide Californians with the information, guidance, and recommendations they need to protect themselves and their families, especially as we head into fall and winter respiratory virus season,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH director and state Public Health officer. “Vaccines continue to provide the safest and most effective protection against severe illness from these respiratory viruses. We remain committed to making sure Californians can choose and access these vaccines.”
Coverage and availability
CDPH’s recommended vaccines will continue to be covered by health care insurers regulated by the State of California and can be received at your local pharmacy, from your health care provider, or through other authorized vaccine providers at no cost.
To schedule your vaccine appointment, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or visit myturn.ca.gov.
CDPH immunization recommendations
COVID-19
• Children: All children 6-23 months; All children 2-18 years with risk factors or never vaccinated against COVID-19; All children who are in close contact with others with risk factors; All children who choose protection
• Adults: All adults age 65 years and older; All adults ages 19-64 years with risk factors; All adults who are in close contact with others with risk factors; All adults who choose protection
• Pregnancy: All planning pregnancy, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating
Influenza
• Children: All children 6 months and older
• Adults: All adults 19 years or older
• Pregnancy: All planning pregnancy, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Children: All children 8 months or younger; All children 8-19 months with risk factors
• Adults: All adults 75 years and older; All adults 50-74 years with risk factors
• Pregnancy: Pregnant between 32-36 weeks gestational age
A list of risk factors is available at CDPH’s Public Health for All webpage.
New dashboards promote clarity and information
In addition to the new Public Health for All webpage, and in alignment with the WCHA’s commitment to transparency and proven science, CDPH has also launched two new interactive dashboards to share the most up-to-date data on respiratory viruses across the state.
The first dashboard is a comprehensive Respiratory Virus Dashboard website. This page provides information on disease activity and severity for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV across the state and includes test positivity, hospitalization and wastewater levels, as well as other more detailed information. This data will be available at the state and regional level.
The second is a comprehensive update to the existing Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard, which now includes additional respiratory virus surveillance data from around California.
For more information on immunization requirements and resources, visit CDPH's Public Health for All webpage. To access both new dashboards, visit CDPH’s Respiratory Viruses page.
Sheriff’s office seeks teen suspect in stabbing incident
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is working to locate a teenager who authorities said stabbed another girl this week.
Nova Fabisch, 14, of Nice, is being sought in connection to the assault, which the sheriff’s office said occurred on Wednesday.
Although Fabisch is a juvenile, sheriff’s spokesperson Lauren Berlinn said her name is being released to the public due to Fabisch being wanted for attempted murder and because she has been “definitively identified as the suspect.”
On Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies responded to Sutter Lakeside Hospital after receiving reports of a juvenile who had sustained multiple stab wounds, Berlinn said.
When they arrived at the hospital, deputies spoke with the juvenile victim in the presence of her parents, Berlinn said.
Berlinn said the victim reported that during a physical altercation, the suspect, identified as Fabisch, stabbed her multiple times with a pocket knife.
The victim was treated for her injuries and is expected to make a full recovery, Berlinn said.
“This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community,” the statement issued by Berlinn on Thursday said.
Berlinn said an active felony warrant has been issued for Fabisch’s arrest on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious bodily injury and attempted murder.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 707-262-4088.
Incoming storm system expected to bring rain, cooler temperatures
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service is forecasting several days of rain, with more precipitation and cooler temperatures expected next week.
The agency’s extended forecast explains that an incoming weather system is going to lead to cooling temperatures.
“A colder storm system is forecast early next, and will bring additional rainfall and the potential for some mountain snow,” the National Weather Service said.
Up to a quarter of an inch of rain is in the forecast from Thursday through Sunday.
Forecasters said there were chances of rain overnight and leading into early Thursday morning, with conditions clearing during the rest of the day.
On Friday and Saturday, rain is expected, along with breezy conditions.
Conditions are forecast to clear during the day on Sunday before chances of rain return.
From Monday through Wednesday, the forecast said rain is likely.
Temperatures are expected to continue to cool over the coming week, dropping into the high 50s and low 60s during the day and into the high 40s at night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
State controller publishes 2024 payroll data for special districts
State Controller Malia M. Cohen has published the 2024 self-reported payroll data for California special districts on the Government Compensation in California website.
The data covers 172,854 positions and a total of over $12.66 billion in 2024 wages with over $3.38 billion in health and retirement costs for 3,100 special districts.
Sixty-eight special districts either did not file or filed a report that was non-compliant.
In Lake County, there are 30 special districts with 437 employees, with wages totaling $14,034,299. All of Lake County’s special districts submitted reports.
The top five special districts in Lake County by employee numbers and wages are as follows:
• Northshore Fire Protection District: 67 employees; total wages, $2,343,983; total retirement and health contributions, $461,539.
• Lake County Fire Protection District: 39 employees; total wages, $2,157,376; total retirement and health contributions, $851,043.
• Kelseyville Fire Protection District: 21 employees; total wages, $1,638,991; total retirement and health contributions, $534,140.
• Lakeport Fire Protection District: 32 employees; total wages, $1,543,800; total retirement and health contributions, $655,920.
• Clearlake Oaks Water District: 22 employees; total wages, $1,360,296; total retirement and health contributions, $323,718.
Special districts are governmental entities created by residents of a local community to deliver specialized services.
Data for 2024 shows the top 10 districts by total wages are healthcare, transportation, electricity, water and fire districts.
“Fiscal oversight and transparency are central to my responsibility as State Controller. Publishing the 2024 payroll data for California’s special districts allows the public to see how billions in wages and benefits are managed each year,” said Controller Cohen. “The Government Compensation in California website is a critical accountability tool that helps taxpayers, policymakers, and local leaders track spending, evaluate priorities, and ensure that public resources are being used responsibly.”
California law requires cities, counties and special districts to annually report compensation data to the state controller.
The state controller also maintains and publishes state and California State University salary data.
The Government Compensation in California site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.
Users of the site can:
• View compensation levels on maps and search by region;
• Narrow results by name of the district or by job title; and
• Export raw data or custom reports.
