Support Our Public Health Officials

Local public health officers and directors need our help. Today. Public comment in Boards of Supervisors meetings across the state have devolved into personal attacks against the physician health officers who are trying to keep our communities safe.

Since the start of the pandemic, seven local health officials have resigned, many due to public pressure. We must stop these departures in order to keep our communities protected. You can show your support in several ways.

First: Contact your Board of Supervisors. Show your support by providing brief public testimony at the next meeting of your Board of Supervisors. Show that you and our local medical community and public health advocates stand behind the health officer and the local health department. See accompanying article below for a short list of the many ways they serve and protect our community.

Instructions for addressing each County Board of Supervisors are linked here . Note that the cities of Berkeley, Long Beach, and Pasadena have their own health officers; information on how to provide comment to these City Councils is also included.

Please note that these instructions are correct as of June 15, 2020 - please check your local Board of Supervisors home page for updated instructions.

Second: Send your local leaders a letter of encouragement - as soon as possible. A letter of thanks and appreciation as they are leaving their job is very kind, but we don't want them threatened and pushed out for doing their jobs - they need your support now. They know that the majority of the community is in support of them and with them, and they need to hear it directly from you and your organization.

Third: Share this email to alert fellow professionals to this disaster in the making. We ALL need to speak up now in support of Health Officers and Health Director’s across the State and Country.

Thank you for for helping us show support to these expert public servants.

Please contact us directly at info@immunizeca.org for more information or if you have any questions. 
Role of Public Health Officers in California
Who are our Public Health Officers?

Public Health Officers focus on the overall health of the community instead of treating individual patients. They oversee programs to promote health, wellness, and healthier lifestyles; and to minimize the risk of illness, disease, and infection.

Health Officers plan, organize, and direct all functions related to public health in the county (or city) including enforcement of all related laws, ordinances, and regulations; to act as a medical and public health consultant to the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer (or city council). 

In emergency situations, such as a disease outbreak, they have legal authority to shut down businesses, isolate or quarantine people, and even order mass evacuations. Health Officers also can issue orders, such as requiring people to wear masks in public. In California, every health jurisdiction is mandated to have a Public Health Officer. They typically are appointed by county executives, such as the Board of Supervisors. 

Our Health Officers are courageous leaders who are looking out for the health of everyone in our community. We strongly encourage your support for their work and sacrifice to help lead us through these challenging times.

Hot Off The Press - Masking Order For All Californians
With coronavirus cases increasing, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statewide order for people to wear masks, beginning today.

The  new state mandate  goes into effect on June 18 and requires Californians to wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible.

As shared in our lead article, the masking requirements in various counties are one of the main concerns for those who are lashing out at Public Health Officers.

Guidance from the California Department of Public Health can be found here.
California Department of Public Health

Important Recruitment Announcement 

CDPH is currently recruiting to fill the Branch Chief, Public Health Medical Administrator I, position in the Immunization Branch, Richmond, CA.

Information and instructions for this position can be found here . Please share this announcement widely.
 
The final due date for applying for this position is July 1, 2020 . If you have questions regarding the position or on taking the exam please email  cidjobs@cdph.ca.gov            

Save The Date For Next CIC Ed Hour
New Vaccines: From Development to Clinical Trials and Safety Monitoring

Join the CIC Education Hour on July 29 th  to hear Nicola Klein, MD, PhD,  Research Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research and co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center, discuss how new vaccines become tools for preventing disease. Dr. Klein will review development, phases of clinical trials, and the rigorous safety monitoring processes that are a necessary part of introducing a new vaccine. She also will discuss some promising COVID-19 vaccines.
Fourth of July Social Media Campaign




Watch for our latest #WeThePeopleVax Campaign for the Fourth of July holiday - coming out next week.
Follow us on social media!
The California Immunization Coalition is a statewide 501c3 nonprofit.
Newsletter content is the sole responsibility of the California Immunization Coalition.