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County of Santa Clara Now Vaccinating against Monkeypox (MPX) Up to Five Times More People at Highest Risk

The County of Santa Clara is expanding access to vaccination for people at highest risk of contracting monkeypox (MPX) by administering the Jynneos vaccine using an authorized technique that stretches vaccine supply. This comes at a time when vaccine supply still falls far short of the need. Previously, a single vial of vaccine could serve only one person; that vial can now serve as many as five people. A change announced by the federal government last week allows the County to stretch its remaining supply to vaccinate hundreds of eligible ...

County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Expands Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department is expanding eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine, as it continues to urge residents at risk to take precautions against the monkeypox virus and be aware of symptoms associated with infection. The Public Health Department will offer monkeypox vaccine to people meeting specific eligibility criteria by appointment only, starting this week. The Department is partnering with LGBTQ+ community organizations to offer appointments to individuals meeting the eligibility criteria. Previously, vaccine access had been by invitation only during contact tracing investigations, due to ...

Urgent Survey: CMA needs your help to advocate for better Medicare payments

Since 2001, inflation has increased by 40%, yet physician Medicare fee-for-service payments have only increased by 7% - and that was largely due to the federal COVID-19 pandemic funding. Nationally, today’s Medicare payments on average, lag 40% behind the cost of providing care. The California Medical Association (CMA) is hearing that physicians are struggling to maintain their practices, which is negatively impacting patient access to care. While hospital and nursing home payments are indexed to inflation (and as a result have increased by 60% since 2001), the broken physician payment ...

988: The New Three Digit Dialing Code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The Lifeline and 988 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.  When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are ...

SCCPHD HEALTH ADVISORY: Monkeypox Infections in Bay Area

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department (SCCPHD) has now identified one confirmed and one probable case of Monkeypox among Santa Clara County residents. As of June 29, there are 5,115 cases in 51 countries reported globally, 350 cases reported in the US, and 80 cases reported in California. While international travel is still a risk factor, epidemiologic investigation suggests that community transmission of the virus is occurring via social and sexual networks in Europe and the United States, including in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cases in the U.S. and in the Bay ...