Health
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Getting vaccinated is a great way to avoid getting the flu, and this is especially important during the time of COVID-19.
Anyone 6 months of age or older is encouraged to get a flu vaccine. Being careful to use good hygiene is another way to protect yourself and those around you.
If you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the crook of your arm instead of your hands. A virus can easily be passed from your hands to the things you touch.
Wash your hands often and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available. Try not to touch your face with your hands. A virus can enter your system through the membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth.
Protect yourself by continuing to avoid close contact with non-household members, especially if they are ill or unmasked.
Choosing a healthful lifestyle can also help to keep you well. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water and staying physically active can help to maintain a healthy immune system.
The symptoms of the flu include a temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit combined with a cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and a lack of energy. If you are ill, stay home to keep from infecting others.
Lake County Public Health is offering seasonal flu vaccines for free this year, in addition to COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 Vaccines that will be available include first and second doses of Pfizer and Moderna, and first dose of Janssen. Masks are required to participate in all clinics.
Lake County Public Health will be offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the Public Health Division, 922 Bevins Court in Lakeport. Appointments can be made at http://myturn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255.
Scheduled drive clinics for the seasonal flu vaccines are as follows; dates and locations are subject to change and additional dates will be announced as vaccine and staffing allows.
Lakeport
— Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
— Wednesday, Nov. 17, and Thursday, Nov. 18, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are also available in a variety of locations such as your primary care provider and local pharmacies.
The Lake County Public Health Division wishes you all a healthy and happy fall and winter season. Together, we can help to decrease the spread of influenza and COVID-19 in our community.
Please call 1-800-794-9291 or 263-1090 with questions or concerns.
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- Written by: Editor
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s 2021 Advocacy Leadership Awards, supported by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., recognizes individuals and organizations that have led legislative or regulatory advocacy and public policy efforts expanding access to services and supports for people with mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, said about Ramos’s selection, “The relentless advocacy of Assemblymember James C. Ramos has made a difference, not only for his constituents but for the entire state of California. Rising suicide rates — particularly among youth — demand a strong and swift response from our public health system. As a result of Assemblymember Ramos’ leadership, California now has a statewide Office of Suicide Prevention with dedicated funding to help support crisis services. This effort will undoubtedly save lives.”
“I am honored to receive this national recognition for mental health advocacy and legislation,” Ramos said. “Too often we forget that mental health is as important as physical health. As a state and a nation we need to ensure we all have access to needed services and that the stigma of seeking and receiving mental health care is eliminated.”
As a California legislator, Ramos has been a champion of children’s mental health. He successfully introduced legislation to expand school suicide prevention policies to cover K-6 students and to combat student bullying.
In 2021, Ramos introduced a measure to streamline the process of creating children’s crisis residential programs and helping to ensure those services are available to families.
Of special note, and in partnership with the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, Ramos authored AB 2112 to establish the state’s first Office of Suicide Prevention at the California Department of Public Health, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This historic office will, for the first time in California, provide leadership on suicide prevention and focus on vulnerable groups, including youth, tribal youth, LGBTQ+ and older adults.
Ramos was nominated for the award by the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. “During his tenure in the California Legislature, Assemblymember Ramos has proved himself to be the champion of children’s behavioral health care,” said Christine Stoner-Mertz, CEO of the California Alliance. “Assemblymember Ramos established the state’s first Office of Suicide Prevention and secured funding to implement it. He has championed intensive treatment options for youth in foster care. And he has authored legislation that will support children in a behavioral health crisis. The California Alliance was proud to nominate Assemblymember Ramos for this deserving Public Service in Advocacy award. It is due to his efforts that California has new tools and resources to marshal for better mental health care in California.”
“Uplift Family Services couldn’t be prouder of the leadership and passion Assemblymember Ramos has demonstrated during these turbulent COVID-19 years,” said Eva M. Terrazas, vice president of Public Policy and Special Initiatives at Uplift Family Services. “Assemblymember Ramos’s laser focus on addressing the behavioral health needs of youth, particularly BIPOC youth, not only addresses the structural inequalities in health care but also moves us forward by providing racially equitable solutions.”
“Faced with a pandemic, workforce challenges and rising demand for mental health and substance use treatment services, this year’s advocacy award winners have risen to the challenge and gone above and beyond to improve the mental well-being of their communities,” Ingoglia said. “Under their proactive leadership, innovative new programs and partnerships were created, and new funding was secured to get people the care they need. Their work — and their relentless drive to realize their visions — will have a lasting impact and is a blueprint for smart and effective advocacy.”
The National Council will honor its 2021 Advocacy Leadership Award winners at a reception during Hill Day at Home on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Learn more about the 2021 Advocacy Leadership Award program.
The Advocacy Leadership Awards will be broadcast from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Those who wish to watch the ceremony must register by using the Hill Day at Home link.
Once registered, registrants will receive an email with a Badge ID and a link to login on the Hill Day At Home site to access presentations and the Advocacy Leadership Awards broadcast. By clicking on the “Agenda” button on the left, the day’s program, including the awards portion, can be viewed on the livestream.
Ramos represents the 40th Assembly district which includes Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature.
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AB 367 will require all public schools serving students in grades 6 to 12, Community Colleges, & California State Universities to stock restrooms with an adequate supply of free menstrual products, commencing in the 2022-23 school year.
“Our biology doesn’t always send an advanced warning when we’re about to start menstruating, which often means we need to stop whatever we’re doing and deal with a period. Often periods arrive at inconvenient times. They can surprise us during an important midterm, while playing with our children at a park, sitting in a lobby waiting to interview for a job, shopping at the grocery store, or even standing on the Assembly Floor presenting an important piece of legislation. Having convenient and free access to these products means our period won’t prevent us from being productive members of society, and would alleviate the anxiety of trying to find a product when out in public,” said Assembly member Garcia.
During Assembly member Garcia’s tenure in the California State legislature, as the self-proclaimed Period Princess, she has been and continues to be a vocal champion and advocate of period dignity policies.
In 2017, the Assembly member successfully passed and had legislation signed into law to ensure low-income schools in disadvantaged communities provide students with free menstrual products.
In addition, Assembly member Garcia led the successful effort to permanently eliminate the tax charged on menstrual health products in AB 150 (2021, Chapter 82) of the 2021-22 State Budget Act.
This effort started an international movement to rectify the discriminatory taxation of menstrual products, which cost Californians born with a uterus over $20 million annually.
Garcia is committed to continue the fight to ensure that having a uterus is no longer stigmatized by misunderstanding, bias, or fear.
AB 367 was inspired by the trail blazing actions of Scotland, where Parliament adopted The Period Products (Free Provision) on Nov. 24, 2020. Scotland’s new law declared access to menstrual products as a human right and requires all designated public places to provide menstrual products free of charge to anyone who needs them.
“Last year, Scotland showed the world this pioneering policy can be passed, with bipartisan support, and become law. I propose we build upon California’s prior menstrual equity laws by declaring that access to menstrual products is a human right and expand access. Just as toilet paper and paper towels are provided in virtually every public bathrooms, so should menstrual products. It is time we recognize and respond to the biology of half the population by prioritizing free access to menstrual products, and eliminating all barriers to them,” said Garcia.
Numerous groups pledged its support of the bill and praised Garcia’s effort to bring attention to the topic of menstrual equity.
“We’re proud that California has taken this step to advance menstrual equity by bringing AB 367 into fruition. By providing direct access to free menstrual products in public schools, we are ensuring more equal access to education and encouraging all students to reach their fullest potential. CASC is grateful to be a part of this progress and we thank Assemblymember Garcia for championing this effort and making it possible for #MenstrualEquityforAll,” said Catherine Xu, California Association of Student Councils.
“Passing AB 367 prioritizes the health and dignity of thousands of California students and recognizes access to menstrual products as a basic need. By removing this significant barrier for young people, we are one step closer to realizing true equal access to education for all students, regardless of gender, race, or economic status,” said Ariana Rodriguez, policy counsel, ACLU of Southern California.
“The signing of AB 367 is a win for students and families statewide. We're immensely proud of the role high school and college women in IGNITE played in championing menstrual equity for all,” said Sara Guillermo, CEO, IGNITE.
"Across our communities, girls and gender-expansive youth lack access to the means to manage their menstrual health with dignity. This is a groundbreaking win made all the more vital because of the pandemic, and will ensure that everyone who does get a period has the right to affordable, accessible, and safe period products,” said Emma Mayerson, founding executive director of Alliance for Girls.
"With the help of legislators, AB 367 was initiated and lobbied by youth activists, who are the leaders of the menstrual movement. California represents the largest state population of menstruators in the country, and the fifth largest economy in the world. California joins a growing number of states who lead the way in demonstrating that menstrual equity is a matter of human rights. This policy will move us all closer to eliminating period poverty and period stigma in our lifetime. It’s feasible and possible. PERIOD. is proud to stand with California to change thousands of lives for the better. By providing menstrual products in schools, California will help ensure its students have equal access to education and are empowered to reach their full potential, irrespective of their gender or economic status,” said Michela Bedard, PERIOD; Executive Director and Damaris Pereda, PERIOD. National grams Director.
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- Written by: Editor
Monday’s executive order extends the previous order’s provisions relaxing certain state privacy and security laws for medical providers, which were set to expire on Sept. 30, 2021, through the end of the state of emergency or until the original order is rescinded or modified.
These expanded protections for medical providers are similar to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights waiver regarding federal privacy and security laws.
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