COVID-19

AltaMed Asks Unvaccinated Latinx Californians: “Come On! What Are You Waiting For?”

February 7, 2022

The nation’s largest independent federally qualified health center has partnered with other organizations to provide tens of thousands of COVID-19 shots as part of a comprehensive public education campaign.

COVID-19 Is Reshaping California’s Health Workforce

February 1, 2022

Avram Goldstein

A conversation with Joanne Spetz, director of UCSF’s Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies.

California Leaders Revive Paid Sick Leave for Essential Workers

January 31, 2022

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Without sick leave, workers are forced to choose between paying their bills and possibly spreading COVID-19.

Coverage During a Crisis: Insured Rate for Californians Hits Historic High in First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic

Coverage Trends

An analysis of data from the California Health Interview Survey shows that more Californians had health insurance than ever before in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet critical disparities in coverage persist, and coverage gains may slow, or even reverse, as pandemic policies wind down.

Frustrations Mount Over Lagging Supplies of COVID-19 Tests

January 10, 2022

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Supply problems add another complication to US and California efforts to use widespread screening to suppress transmission of the coronavirus.

Disaster Service Workers Step Up in Pandemic

January 7, 2022

Aisling Carroll

Homelessness & Health Care, Workforce, Behavioral Health

How local agencies expanded their assistance to Santa Clara County’s unhoused population in the COVID-19 era.

With Superheroes and Songs, El Sol’s Promotores Help Vaccinate Inland Empire

December 3, 2021

Workforce, Health Equity

Community health workers have devoted significant energy to disseminating information about the coronavirus and the vaccines that protect people from it.

Imminent Flu Season Could Cause Double Trouble

November 15, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Public health experts remain wary of a potential peril that the state avoided last winter — a “twindemic.”

The Pressing Need for Public Health Investment

November 8, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: California's public health infrastructure required shoring up even before COVID-19 hammered county and state public health systems.

How Doctors in South LA County Increase Patients’ COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

November 2, 2021

Aisling Carroll

Health Equity, Workforce

Uncertain patients can change their minds if they feel understood and hear the right emotion in a doctor's voice, according to physicians on the front lines.

Facts Refute Antivaccine Fearmongering After Powell’s Death from COVID-19

October 25, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Even with full vaccination, former secretary of state Colin Powell's immune system — weakened by a blood cancer — couldn't fend off a coronavirus infection.

Information Campaigns, Mandates Produce Some Good News

October 18, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Public health leaders have been encouraged by increased acceptance of COVID-19 shots in communities that were lagging state and national vaccination rates.

California Tackles Crucial Data Exchange Challenges

October 11, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Nationally, investment in health data infrastructure has been woefully lacking for years, with significant consequences for public health reporting.

California Public Safety, Health Care Workers Confront Vaccination Mandates

October 4, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Holdouts push employers to the limit.

State, Federal Actions Protected Health Coverage for Millions During Pandemic

September 27, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Expanding Health Coverage, Medi-Cal, Coverage Trends

Stories That Caught Our Attention: The percentage of Americans with health insurance remained stable during 2020 despite a hobbled economy.