By Elijah McKee

May 24, 2022 (El Cajon) — “I don’t care if y’all heard this a million times but I’m about to make it a million and one: banning abortions only bans safe ones,” proclaimed Huda Ahmed from the steps of the Grossmont Union School District offices during East County Justice Coalition’s (ECJC) reproductive rights rally on May 18. 

The rally was the first of its kind in East County since the U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling was leaked two weeks prior, alerting the public of the threat to federally protected abortion access. If the decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito stands as written, it would allow states to outlaw all abortions, even when a mother’s life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.

Test results show drinking water supply is present for E. coli and Total Coliform Bacteria

Source: County News Service

Photo: Drinking fountain; CC by NC-ND

May 23, 2022 (Warner Springs) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has issued a Boil Water Order for Warner Unified School District water system at 30951 Highway 79, Warner Springs. Only the main campus is impacted by the boil water order, not the resource center and ball fields located across the highway from the campus.  The water system serves a daily population of 150 people, consisting of students and staff of Warner Unified School District (kindergarten through 12^th grade). 

Source:  California Department of Veteran Affairs

May 17, 2022 (Sacramento) - Today, Governor Newsom announced $50 million for the establishment of the California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI). The CVHI will deliver a comprehensive, coordinated statewide approach to ending veteran suicide by focusing on prevention, early intervention, and direct services to effectively combat the risk factors associated with suicidal ideation. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Operating room, CC by ND via Bing

May 10, 2022 (San Diego) -- The Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grades report released today by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit health care watchdog organization,  gave most local hospitals an “A” rating for patient safety during the pandemic, including Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, which serves East County. But East County’s other hospital, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, received a dismal “C” rating due largely to its below average performance in preventing infections including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics. 

May 7, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Week-long ‘Mother’s Day Strike’ set to protest overturn of Roe (The Hill)
• FDA puts strict limits on Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine (CNN)
• Better ventilation makes a healthier workplace — if companies invest : Shots - Health News (NPR)
• The tick that makes people allergic to red meat is in D.C. (Washington Post)
• Public health expert talks about effectiveness of a second COVID-19 vaccine booster (KPBS)
• E-cigs using synthetic nicotine come under FDA oversight (10 News)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• You can now ask Google to take your personal data out of its search results (NPR)
• Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid: ‘Twitter needs to be transformed’ (Washington Post)
• Meet the Reddit ‘Aunties’ covertly helping people get abortions (Washington Post)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

May 6, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- One of the questions I get from community members I work alongside in East County is “How do you determine the most important drug, alcohol and mental health issues to focus on?” The answer is that in addition to listening to the needs of the community, our priorities are also established through a framework established by the County of San Diego. The Behavioral Health Services Division of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is designated with addressing these issues and working to promote recovery, discovery, resiliency and well-being through prevention, treatment and intervention. Integrated services are available from BHS for those who may be experiencing mental illness along with substance misuse.

Source: County of San Diego Health and Human Services

May 5, 2022 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has received COVID-19 self-test kits from the state. Distribution criteria and a distribution plan have been developed to ensure that those at highest risk of illness and death from COVID-19 infection and those in low income and underserved communities receive these kits.   

East County News Service

Photo: CC by NA

May 4, 2022 (San Diego) - As the nation comes to grip with a leaked Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade and end abortion rights in many states, the nonprofit Power to Decide today released a new bombshell report that shows  a pattern and practice of insurance companies routinely denying free birth control to women that was prescribed by their doctor--even when the ACA mandates that birth control is free.  

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

April 25, 2022 (San Diego) - Looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs? 

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

By Elijah McKee

April 13, 2022 (La Mesa) — City of La Mesa employees are now eligible for $500 bonus checks — and if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they can receive an additional $500. 

96 children locally have been stricken by Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome caused by COVID

East County News Service

April 13, 2022 (San Diego) - A 15-year-old girl died from COVID-19 and is the second death of someone under the age of 18 in the region during the pandemic, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

Source:  FDA                                      

April 10, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Canadian authorities, state and local partners, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters that were widely distributed, including in California.

Source:  County of San Diego

April 6, 2022 (Potrero) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has issued a Boil Water Order for the Potrero County Park water system located at 25800 Potrero Park Drive, Potrero, CA 91963, effective immediately. The water system supplies water to 37 service connections including the office, ranger residence, 32 recreational vehicle spaces and 3 public restrooms with an average daily population of 100 persons. 

Source: U.S. Health and Human Services Dept.

Photo: CC via Bing

 

April 4, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing today that more than 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, now have access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, authorized, or cleared over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost.  People with Medicare can get up to eight tests per calendar month from participating pharmacies and health care providers for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2022 (San Diego) – Experts say it costs less than $10 a vial to manufacture insulin, yet the price to consumers with diabetes has skyrocketed to as much as $1,000 per vial, ABC News reports. That’s led to rationing and deaths of some patients. Hoping to save lives, the House voted 232-193 to pass a bill that would cap insulin costs at $35 or 25% of an insurance plan’s negotiated price.

Although 12 Republicans voted with Democrats for the bill, local Republican Congressman Darrel Issa voted against it.  San Diego County’s other Congressional representatives voted in favor.