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De acuerdo con datos de la Patrulla de Carreteras de California, la violencia armada en las autopistas del Área de la Bahía se han disparado en los últimos tres años; los tiroteos se han duplicado, lo que se suma a la creciente inseguridad.
De acuerdo con el medio NBC, la Patrulla de Caminos de California señaló que hubo 82 tiroteos en las autopistas del Área de la Bahía en 2019, los cuales resultaron en seis muertes y 50 heridos.
En tanto, en 2020, aumentó en más de 50 por ciento, a 124, con cinco personas muertas y 54 heridas; para 2021, el número de tiroteos llegó a 178: ocho personas murieron y 62 fueron heridas.
Entre las autopistas con mayor número de incidentes de violencia con armas de fuego, se ubican la Interestatal 80, con 86 desde 2019; seguida por la I-580 con 79 y la I-880 con 57, durante los últimos tres años.
El medio también destacó que, de acuerdo con las autoridades, los tramos de carretera más peligrosos en 2021 fueron en la I-580 en el condado de Alameda con 31 tiroteos.
Le sigue la ruta estatal 4 en el condado de Contra Costa,en donde se registraron 23 tiroteos; la I-880 en el condado de Alameda, siguió con 21, y la I-80 en el condado de Solano con 15 de estos delitos.
In turn, the stretch of I-80 in Contra Costa County is added with 14.
Si bien es cierto que los datos muestran que el número de tiroteos aumentó, también lo es el de que los arrestos disminuyeron durante el mismo lapso.
In 2019, with 82 shootings and six fatalities, 22 arrests were made, representing 17 percent of all cases.
Para 2020, cuando el número de tiroteos aumentó a 124, solo hubo 16 arrestos, lo que significa que hubo algún detenido en sólo el 11 por ciento de los eventos.
And in 2021 with 178 and eight deaths there were only 22 arrests, 10 percent of all incidents.
A estos números, se sumó el tiroteo fatal registrado el martes por la tarde, en donde un recluta del alguacil del condado de Alameda perdió la vida mientras conducía hacia el oeste por la Interestatal 580.
In early December 2021, San Mateo County authorities said they collected 425 firearms during a buyback event held in San Carlos.
En dicho evento, se pagaron 100 dólares por pistola, escopeta o rifle y 200 por arma de asalto.
Of the 425 weapons collected, six were assault weapons and three were "ghost" weapons.
Last month, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved spending up to $208,000 in reserves from revenue raised through Measure K, a voter-approved 2016 extension of a half-cent sales tax.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office added $100,000 and the community group Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback contributed $67,000 to fund the events.
Dos eventos más de recompra de armas se llevarán a cabo este año, según el condado.
A este tipo de acciones se han sumado otros condados del Área de la Bahía, con la intención de reducir la violencia armada en toda la zona.
Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale announced Tuesday that she is running for a seat in the state Assembly.
Hale, quien ha estado en el Concejo de Redwood City desde 2018, contiende por un lugar en el Distrito 21, ubicado en el Valle de San Joaquín e incluye el condado de Kings y parte de los condados de Fresno, Kern y Tulare.
Asimismo, incluyen desde Belmont, hasta el sur de San Francisco a lo largo del Área de la Bahía.
«Me postulo para la Asamblea de California en el Distrito 21 porque con los problemas que enfrentamos, necesitamos líderes que sepan que las acciones hablan más que las palabras. Como su asambleísta, haré el trabajo», señaló Hall en sus redes sociales.
El puesto ha quedado libre luego de que el asambleísta Kevin Mullin se postulara para ocupar el escaño de Jackie Speier, quien se jubila en el Congreso.
Hale fue elegida miembro del concejo municipal de Redwood City en 2018 y se convirtió en alcaldesa en diciembre de 2021. Sin embargo, anteriormente se desempeñó en la comisión de planificación de la ciudad y en la junta de la Fundación para la Educación de Redwood City.
La contendiente que señaló ser empresaria y líder comunitaria, recordó a través de un breve mensaje que todos tienen la misma oportunidad para prosperar, independientemente de su pasado.
Agregó que el condado de San Mateo enfrenta grandes desafíos, por lo que «necesitamos líderes con visión de futuro, orientados a resultados. No solo los típicos políticos».
Ante ello, dijo haber construido un historial de cumplimiento sobre los principales problemas de la comunidad, tal es el caso de la vivienda, al trabajar con grupos como «Habitat for Humanity» para crear proyectos y programas de casa más asequibles, y con ello reducir la falta de vivienda.
Asimismo, recordó que se ha apoyado a niños durante la pandemia por COVID-19; sus familias pudieron tener acceso al programa «Safe Childcare», además de encontrar financiamientos a escuelas locales, para que todos los niños puedieran tener acceso a una educación de calidad.
A ello, sumó todas aquellas acciones en materia de economía, medio ambiente y respuesta ante la pandemia por COVID-19.
«Tomaré el mismo enfoque en la Asamblea Estatal, trabajando fuerte y obteniendo resultados», destacó.
Hail llamó a visitar su sitio web, www.gisellehale.com, para unirse a su campaña, misma que está respaldada por la representante Anna Eshoo, del Distrito de Palo Alto; la tesorera estatal Fiona Ma; el senador estatal Scott Weiner, del Distrito de San Francisco; el asambleísta Marc Berman, del Distrito de Palo Alto, y la asambleísta Buffy Mechas.
The family of a deceased man who said he was repeatedly sexually abused by a Bay Area Catholic priest when he was a child is suing the Diocese of Oakland.
Under provisions of a new state law allowing suit in such cases, the family and estate of Jim Bartko, former Fresno State University athletic director filed it last week in Alameda County Superior Court.
It alleges that Bartko suffered repeated sexual abuse between 1972 and 1975 at the hands of Stephen Kiesle, then a priest of the Oakland Diocese and assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Pinole.
It also claims the diocese knew of Kiesle’s “history of sexual conduct and sexual assault against minors” prior to his alleged abuse of Bartko and negligently allowed Kiesle to continue working with children.
Kiesle was convicted in 2004 of sexually abusing a child, was released from prison in 2009 and lives in Walnut Creek, according to the California Megan's Law website.
He was also convicted in 1978 of sexually abusing boys at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Union City, but was allowed to return to work while on probation, according to Bartko's attorneys.
Kiesle left the priesthood in 1981 but returned to St. Joseph's in 1988 as a volunteer youth minister, Bartko's attorneys said.
He is listed as a “credibly accused clergyman” on the diocese’s website, which says he was removed from ministry in 1978 and “laicized” — independent of all religious influence — in 1987.
Bartko, who wrote a book about his abuse and subsequent struggles titled “Boy in the Mirror,” sued the diocese in 2020 but died at the age of 54, just three days after announcing his lawsuit.
"The cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver, a result of decades of alcohol use to cope with his childhood trauma," Bartko's attorneys said in a news release Monday.
"Jim's first drink came at the age of 7, provided by Father Stephen Kiesle as a means to make Jim more vulnerable to Father Kiesle's sexual advances," the statement said.
The new law, SB447, went into effect on January 1 and allows families of deceased victims of child sexual abuse and other crimes to sue for non-economic damages, or “pain and suffering,” on their behalf.
Under previous law, such claims typically ended when the victims died.
"Now it doesn't matter what they die from, the case is still alive no matter what the cause is," said Bartko's attorney, Rick Simons.
"It also means that the gain from stopping these cases and keeping them secret until the end of life, the gain from making as many motions and delaying tactics as possible in the hope that people will die is taken out of the equation," Simons said.
A diocesan spokesman said Monday that they have not yet received the complaint and declined to comment.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday proposed his 2022-2023 state budget, which includes extending health care coverage to all low-income residents in the state, including undocumented immigrants; if successful, the state would become the first to offer universal health coverage.
While California taxpayers already pay for health care for people under 26 and undocumented low-income people over 50, the new bill provides for coverage for everyone.
Newsom’s proposal, which would expand access to Medi-Cal — the state’s version of Medicaid — is estimated to cost about $2.7 billion annually once the expansion is fully implemented by 2024.
"We're doing something no other state has done," Newsom said during the announcement of his proposal.
The overall project, which would have a total budget of about $286.4 billion, with a general fund of $213.1 billion, will focus on five points, which he called "existential threats": combating the current COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and its effects, homelessness, income inequality and public safety.
“With significant new investments to address the greatest threats to our state’s future, California’s Blueprint lights a path forward to continue the historic progress we’ve made on our near- and long-term challenges, including responding to the evolving pandemic, combating the climate crisis, confronting persistent inequality and homelessness, and keeping our streets safe,” said Governor Newsom.
He also noted that with a surplus of $45.7 billion, the California Plan contemplates a fiscal base that includes $34.6 billion in reserves, and continues to pay long-term pension debts.
Fighting Covid-19 with science
Newsom said he will continue to protect Californians by fighting COVID-19 based on science and with a focus on keeping schools open and the economy moving.
The plan includes an additional $2.7 billion to increase vaccinations, boosters, testing statewide, and increased medical staff to address potential surges in cases.
Fighting the climate crisis
On climate, the bill seeks to address the extreme weather conditions that have occurred in the state, such as forest fires, and will provide $648 million to support firefighters, obtain more helicopters and bulldozers, along with an additional $1.2 billion, based on last year's $1.5 billion investment, to intensify forest management and other life-saving practices.
The government will also seek to address drought, with an additional $750 million in water spending to help residents, farmers and wildlife in addition to last year's $5.2 billion water package.
The ambitious plan also calls for reducing California's dependence on fossil fuels and a complete transition to clean energy, seeking to invest billions of dollars in research and development of climate technology, clean cars, and preparing Californians for career opportunities in the field.
Facing homelessness
The governor's plan will seek to ensure that vulnerable people have the help they need to get off the streets and receive the mental health treatment they need. The plan adds $2 billion for housing and mental health services and cleanup camps.
Governor Newsom’s new investments expand on last year’s $12 billion package, creating a total of 55,000 new housing units and treatment spaces for people exiting homelessness.
Addressing the cost of living
Too many Californians find themselves on the wrong side of income inequality, crushed by the rising costs of even the most basic expenses like health care, housing, child care and keeping a small business open.
To that end, Newsom seeks to create universal access to health care coverage, with universal access to health coverage for all state residents, regardless of immigration status.
Additionally, it will seek to invest in students by adding thousands of child care spaces and increasing access to summer school programs.
The project will add $2 billion in new grants and tax credits to create more housing, while supporting small businesses by cutting red tape and providing hundreds of millions in grants and tax breaks.
Security
The project includes its Royal Public Security Plan, which focuses on three key areas to combat and prevent crime:
Strengthen law enforcement and local response to stop and apprehend criminals, including $255 million in grants for local law enforcement and creating a new “Smash and Grab” Enforcement Unit to combat organized retail crime and grants for impacted small businesses.
It also calls for more prosecutors to hold perpetrators accountable by ensuring district attorneys prosecute criminals effectively and efficiently, and by creating a new statewide team of investigators to pursue perpetrators.
He added that other plans include creating a new statewide gun buyback program, holding the gun industry accountable with state-leading legislation and interdicting drugs at the border.
Millones de niños salieron de la pobreza el pasado mes de julio cuando la Administración Biden proporcionó cheques de hasta 300 dólares por niño al mes a las familias de bajos ingresos. El crédito fiscal por hijo expiró el 31 de diciembre, dejando a las familias de bajos ingresos luchando por comprar alimentos y pagar el alquiler en medio de un invierno sombrío y una pandemia mundial.
Por ello, Ethnic Media Services, ofreció una sesión informativa sobre los retos que enfrentan las familias con niños en vulnerabilidad económica; además, se presentaron cifras importantes sobre el avance que han tenido los programas públicos y políticas ciudadanas a las que otros sectores de la población han tenido acceso.
El Crédito Fiscal por Hijos, que expiraba el pasado 31 de diciembre de 2020, otorgaba pagos directos de 300 dólares al mes a la población infantil de 6 años, y de 250 dólares al mes a los mayores de 6. Los pagos mensuales permitían a las familias acceder a beneficios sin tener que esperar un año para recibir el crédito.
“El hambre aumentó de 10 millones en 2019 a 12 millones en 2020. La niñez de afrodescendiente y latina tienen el doble de probabilidades de pasar hambre debido al racismo sistémico”, dijo Loree D. Jones, directora general de Philabundance, un proyecto de ayuda contra el hambre en Filadelfia, una de las grandes ciudades más pobres de Estados Unidos.
Philabundance ha proporcionado 70 mil comidas culturalmente localizadas a los refugiados afganos, y proporcionó alimentos durante el Ramadán para que las familias musulmanas tuvieran comida para romper sus ayunos.
Se ha previsto que el crédito reducía la pobreza infantil anual en más de un 40%, dijo Claire Zippel, analista principal de investigación en el equipo de Tendencias de Ingresos y Pobreza del Centro de Presupuesto y Prioridades Políticas. “Sabemos que la reducción de la pobreza infantil ayuda a los niños a estar más sanos y a rendir mejor en la escuela, y les prepara para el éxito en la edad adulta”, dijo.
Por ello, concluyeron que es necesario llevar una nueva propuesta a autoridades locales que intercedan ante el Congreso de los EE. UU. para establecer nuevas rutas que alejen a las familias con niños de la vulnerabilidad económica. Se prevé que, para julio de 2022, los efectos de la pobreza en la población infantil vulnerable los aleje totalmente de sus estudios.
Una nueva legislación sobre el tema, Build Back Better, concluyeron los expertos, reduciría los índices de deserción escolar, las tasas crecientes de desnutrición en la niñez afrodescendiente y latina, y un mejor desempeño a nivel social en corto y largo plazo.
Varios bancos y cooperativas de crédito del Área de la Bahía han cerrado temporalmente algunas de sus sucursales a medida que los casos de la variante ómicron aumentan en toda la región y obligan a los trabajadores a quedarse en casa.
Patelco Credit Union, que atiende a los residentes del Área de la Bahía desde el condado de Marin hasta el de Santa Clara, informó por medio de un correo electrónico a los clientes que el virus obligó a la cooperativa de crédito a cerrar algunas de sus sucursales y provocó tiempos de espera más prolongados para su centro de llamadas.
Si bien la cooperativa de ahorro y crédito no dio más detalles sobre qué sucursales están cerradas actualmente debido a problemas de personal relacionados con COVID-19, algunas de sus establecimientos en Campbell, Hayward, Lafayette, Milpitas, Novato, Oakland, Pleasanton y San Mateo están cerradas actualmente.
Los principales banqueros Chase y Wells Fargo también informaron cierres temporales de algunas de sus sucursales debido a la escasez de personal, aunque ambos bancos señalaron que la mayoría de sus sucursales en el Área de la Bahía permanecen abiertas.
«Nuestras ubicaciones cerradas temporalmente reanudarán sus operaciones lo antes posible», dijo un portavoz de Wells Fargo en un comunicado enviado por correo electrónico. «Lamentamos las molestias que pueda ocasionar a nuestros clientes».
Los portavoces de otras instituciones financieras en el área metropolitana de la Bahía, incluidas Provident Credit Union, Bay Federal Credit Union y San Francisco Fire Credit Union, no dieron seguimiento a las solicitudes sobre problemas de personal relacionados con COVID en sus sucursales.
En declaraciones separadas, Chase, Wells Fargo y Patelco instaron a los clientes afectados por el cierre de sucursales a utilizar sus respectivos servicios de banca móvil y en línea.
El Departamento de Desarrollo del Empleo de California (EDD, por sus siglas en inglés) informó sobre la detección y actuación rápida en la suspensión de un nuevo modus operandi de estafa por parte de organizaciones criminales: presentaron reclamaciones falsas en seguros por discapacidad mediante robo de identidad.
Esta nueva estafa involucró a presuntos elementos criminales organizados que presentaron falsas solicitudes de seguro de incapacidad al intentar usar credenciales robadas de individuos y proveedores médicos o de salud, señaló la autoridad.
Los proveedores de servicios médicos y sanitarios certifican la existencia de una discapacidad que el solicitante declara al solicitar las prestaciones del seguro de discapacidad al EDD.
A través de un comunicado, detalló que las pruebas de la estafa incluyen un aumento reciente de nuevos registros de cuentas médicas o de proveedores de salud en línea del EDD y un aumento de las reclamaciones de seguro de discapacidad.
«El Departamento ha observado un aumento reciente de nuevas inscripciones de cuentas médicas y de proveedores de salud en línea y tiene la firme sospecha de que la mayoría de esas inscripciones son fraudulentas», dijo Ronald Washington, director adjunto del Seguro de Incapacidad del EDD. «Hemos desplegado salvaguardias adicionales que protegen aún más a los proveedores y a los reclamantes de estas estafas».
El Departamento ha suspendido los pagos de ciertas reclamaciones hasta que pueda verificar más la información sobre esa reclamación.
El EDD también está impulsando su proceso de investigación de proveedores médicos y de salud y deteniendo el pago de muchas reclamaciones nuevas.
Estas acciones, dijo, ayudan a proteger a los proveedores y reclamantes legítimos de nuevos fraudes.
Agregó que los filtros ralentizarán el proceso de registro de nuevos proveedores y pueden afectar al tiempo que tardan los reclamantes legítimos en recibir las prestaciones.
Ante ello, detallaron que el EDD se pondrá en contacto con los proveedores lo antes posible para completar los procesos de verificación adicionales.
Actualmente no hay pruebas de que los proveedores de servicios médicos o de salud de California hayan participado a sabiendas en este último intento de estafa, precisó el EDD.
La agencia subrayó que está ampliando su intercambio de información sobre el fraude entre las agencias estatales y federales, así como con los grupos médicos afectados.
Sin embargo, el EDD sigue instando al público a permanecer atento a la protección de la información personal al realizar cualquier actividad en línea; y para aquellos que han recibido contacto por pate de la agencia y sospechen de un fraude, como por ejemplo que alguien haya presentado una reclamación o haya creado una cuenta, pueden presentar una denuncia visitando Ask EDD y seleccionando la categoría «Report Fraud» para rellenar el formulario de denuncia.
Las víctimas también pueden presentar una denuncia de robo de identidad ante la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC, por sus siglas en inglés).
Los programas de seguro de discapacidad del estado son uno de los cuatro programas clave del EDD que también incluyen el seguro de desempleo, la recaudación de impuestos sobre el empleo y los servicios de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral.
Las prestaciones del seguro de incapacidad proporcionan un reemplazo parcial del salario a los trabajadores de California que reúnen los requisitos y que no pueden laborar y tienen una pérdida de salario debido a enfermedad, lesión o embarazo.
You probably know someone who has had COVID-19, and with the increase in cases, doubts about the disease itself, the symptoms, and the variants that have become important in this fourth wave of the pandemic are likely to grow. We invite you to continue reading and find out what you should know today.
Omicron is the name given to a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The emergence of the Omicron variant in late 2021 has strained local, state, and national healthcare systems.
What are the symptoms of the Omicron variant?
Symptoms of infection with the original coronavirus, the Delta variant, and Omicron are similar: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, and muscle pain. Medical professionals and scientists are working to discern the differences between the two strains of the virus.
Many unknowns remain. “While there is still much we don’t know about Omicron, vaccines and boosters are effective at preventing severe illness and limiting transmission of the virus,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County health officer.
In a statement, the health expert explained that the best way to track and treat COVID-19 cases, whether the Delta or Omicron variants, is through testing. “Testing is absolutely essential for all of us.”
To help prevent the spread, health officials continue to urge people to get their COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, and require the use of masks in indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status.
I have symptoms, now what do I do?
The first step is to stay home from work and school. The next step is to get tested.
You should get tested for COVID-19 right away if you feel any symptoms, regardless of your vaccination status. Symptoms of the illness may feel like a common cold, seasonal allergies, or the flu.
Testing can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.
I came into close contact with someone who now has COVID-19. What should I do?
Get tested, even if you are fully vaccinated.
The California Department of Public Health recommends that anyone who comes into contact with someone who has, or is suspected of having, COVID-19 should get tested on day 5 after exposure.
If you are fully vaccinated and booster-vaccinated, or fully vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster, you do not need to quarantine — staying home and away from other people for at least five days — but you should isolate if you develop symptoms or receive a positive test result.
People who are unvaccinated or are vaccinated and eligible for a booster but have not received it should stay home for at least 5 days after their last contact with a person who has COVID-19, and get tested on day 5.
It is worth noting that you must quarantine yourself if you are in one of the following groups:
Has completed the primary series of a recommended vaccine and is eligible for a booster, but has not received it
Received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine – completing the primary series – more than 2 months ago and has not received a recommended booster shot
You are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccination series
What are the two different tests? Does it matter which test I take?
Two types of tests are commonly available:
Rapid antigen tests
PCR tests
Why use antigen tests?
An antigen test directly detects protein fragments from the COVID-19 virus. It's easy to perform almost anywhere with a noninvasive nasal swab, provides results quickly, and is good for confirming suspected COVID infections in people who are already sick.
It is worth noting that this type of test is most effective for people who are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. However, they are more likely to have a “false negative” result, so a follow-up PCR test may be needed in people who have symptoms of COVID-19.
You should use an antigen test when:
You need to quickly determine if someone who appears sick has COVID-19
You are in an area where access to PCR testing is limited
If there is limited PCR testing capacity and you are in a high-risk setting where regular and frequent testing is recommended ‒ nursing homes, other congregate care facilities.
PCR test: What is it?
PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. The PCR test amplifies and then detects the presence of genetic material from the COVID-19 virus.
PCR is the preferred test for diagnosing COVID infections in sick people and in people not experiencing any COVID symptoms.
It is important to note that these types of tests must be processed in a laboratory, which can mean waiting up to 72 hours or more between performing the test and obtaining the result.
PCR testing is available at county-operated sites, pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens and others, as well as testing providers such as Curative and Virus Geeks.
Do not go to an emergency department or urgent care to get tested – hospital emergency departments and other urgent care facilities are not testing centers.
Are home test results reported to local public health officials?
No. Home antigen test results are generally not reported to public health agencies, nor are they included in official case counts. This means that statistics for positive tests and cases are significantly underreported.
I got tested – due to symptoms or close contact – but I won’t get the results for 24 to 72 hours. What should I do while I wait?
He should self-isolate, stay home from work and school, while waiting for the results.
What's the latest in face coverings/masks?
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and San Mateo County require face coverings to be worn in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
For additional information on the types of masks, the most effective ones and to ensure a good fit, you can consult the DDPH site in the special section, giving click here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness about the risks of contracting rabies from bats in the United States after three people, including a child, died from the disease between September and November 2021.
The three cases, described in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Thursday, January 6, bring the total number of cases in 2021 to five, compared to no cases reported in people during 2019 and 2020.
Over a five-week period between September 28 and November 3, 2021, three people in Idaho, Illinois, and Texas were confirmed to have died of rabies after direct contact with bats in or around their homes.
Two of the bat-associated cases were considered preventable exposures: one was attributed to a nest found in the patient's home and the other to the victim picking up the bat without gloves.
Two patients let go of the animal, rather than capturing it to touch it. None of the three received post-exposure treatment, injections that can prevent the development of rabies if given before symptoms begin.
“We’ve come a long way in the United States to reduce the number of people who become infected with rabies each year, but this recent surge in cases is a sobering reminder that contact with these animals poses a real health risk,” said Ryan Wallace, a veterinarian and rabies expert in CDC’s Division of Pathology and High-Consequence Pathogens.
According to the agency, exposure to rabid bats is the leading cause of rabies in humans in the U.S., accounting for 70 percent of people who become infected.
The number of rabid bats reported to the National Rabies Surveillance System has remained stable since 2007, suggesting that this increase in cases in people may be due to a lack of awareness about the risks, and that obtaining proper treatment is a matter of life or death.
Bat bites do not always leave a visible mark, but they can still spread the rabies virus through infected saliva, so any direct contact should be evaluated by a clinical or public health provider.
It usually takes between three weeks and three months, although sometimes longer or shorter, for people to develop symptoms if they are infected. Proper treatment is effective in preventing rabies until symptoms develop. Once they begin, the disease is almost always fatal.
Therefore, CDC urges people to take the following steps to prevent or reduce the risk of rabies infection:
Avoid direct contact with bats.
If you have contact, do the following:
Call your state or local health department or animal control to help trap the bat and perform testing to see if the bat has rabies and needs treatment.
Contact your doctor or a local public health official to assess whether special treatment is needed.
These steps are important even if contact with a bat occurs through clothing and bite or scratch marks are not visible.
Sometimes it is not clear whether someone may have had contact with a bat, such as when someone is in a room with someone who is sleeping or where a child has been left unattended.
While rabies deaths in people nationwide are rare, the CDC estimates that about 60,000 people each year receive treatment to prevent contracting the disease.
Army Spc. Angel Laureano holds a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday backed the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to approve the booster dose for people aged 12 to 15 years.
As of Thursday, January 6, the CDC recommends that adolescents ages 12 to 17 receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.
In a brief statement, the agency highlighted that the decision comes after data has shown that COVID-19 boosters help expand and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The ACIP reviewed available safety data following the administration of more than 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents and concluded that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
So far, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.
“It is critical that we protect our children and adolescents from COVID-19 infection and complications of severe illness. Today, I supported ACIP’s vote to expand eligibility and strengthen our recommendations for booster doses. We now recommend that all adolescents ages 12 to 17 years receive a booster vaccine 5 months after their primary series,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
He also stressed that this booster dose will provide enhanced protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant in this sector of the population.
She also encouraged all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
The news comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, January 3, approved the use of the vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years old, in response to a growing number of cases across the country, driven by the Omicron variant.
As millions of students return to school after the Christmas break, the agency also shortened the time between the second Pfizer dose and a booster shot to at least five months, with the expectation being that more people will come forward to get vaccinated.
“Based on the FDA’s evaluation of currently available data, a booster dose of the currently authorized vaccines may help provide better protection against the delta and omicron variants. In particular, the omicron variant appears to be more resistant to the levels of antibodies produced in response to the primary series doses of the current vaccines,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said at the time.
It is worth noting that the fourth wave of infections in the country has deeply affected the population and has caused COVID-19 testing spaces to become saturated.
In addition, hospitals are already beginning to be overwhelmed again due to those who need specialized care against the disease, most of whom are unvaccinated.
