NEW YORK — This year, the germs roared back. Measles tripled. Hepatitis A mushroomed. A rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease increased. And that was just the United States. Globally, there was an explosion of measles in many countries, an unrelenting Ebola outbreak in Africa and a surge in dengue fever...
Study: California Law Lifts Vaccination in 'High-Risk' Areas
SACRAMENTO — A study released this week has found that a law aimed at boosting vaccination rates across California had the greatest effect in high-risk areas where the vaccination rates were the lowest. The peer-reviewed study published in the journal PLOS Medicine on Monday shows that the 2016 legislation contributed to a...
Opponents Drop Bid to Block California Vaccination Law
SACRAMENTO — Opponents on Monday dropped their attempt to block California’s new law cracking down on doctors who write fraudulent medical exemptions for school children's vaccinations. They had floated two measures that could have put the Jan. 1 law on hold until voters considered overturning it next year, but did...
How's Newsom Doing? Great, Say Dems. Terrible, Says GOP.
Early into his first term, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a 60% overall voter approval rating, according to a Berkeley IGS Poll conducted in mid-September. But breaking down Newsom's approval numbers by political party reveals a great partisan divide. "Democrats overwhelmingly approve of the governor’s performance in office, with 86% giving...
Need Immunizations for Your Kids? Fresno Unified Will Provide Them
Fresno Unified School District will provide free immunizations at clinics in early August for students who are uninsured or have Medi-Cal coverage. The clinics will be at Tioga Middle School Room 36, 3232Â E. Fairmont Ave., Fresno. Tioga is designated for the immunization clinics because it has a permanent Health...
Assembly Panel Advances Bill on Vaccination Exemptions
SACRAMENTO — A California Assembly committee on Thursday advanced a bill to tighten the state's rules on vaccination exemptions, but there remains disagreement about the measure among Assembly Democrats. Some members of the Assembly Health Committee say the bill will help protect children amid a surge in measles cases in the United...
Jessica Biel Not Against Vaccinations, Just Against California Bill
LOS ANGELES — Actress Jessica Biel says she's not opposed to vaccinations, but she does not support a bill in California that would limit medical exemptions. The 37-year-old has drawn criticism after appearing this week in Sacramento with vaccination skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to express concerns about Senate Bill...
What’s Wrong With Anti-Vaxxers? They’re Just Like the Rest of Us.
Whenever I talk about my research on how parents come to decide to reject vaccines for their children, my explanations are met with a range of reactions, but I almost always hear the same questions. What is wrong with those parents? Are they anti-science? Are they anti-expert? Are they simply...
Scientology Ship to Remain Under Quarantine in Curacao
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao — Authorities in Curacao say 318 people aboard a Church of Scientology ship docked in the Dutch Caribbean island will remain quarantined at least until Wednesday while they determine how many might be infected with measles. Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth told The Associated Press late Sunday that a team...
LA Universities Quarantine Over 1,000 After Measles Exposure
LOS ANGELES — More than 1000 students and staff members at two Los Angeles universities were quarantined on campus or sent home this week in one of the most sweeping efforts yet by public health authorities to contain the spread of measles in the U.S., where cases have reached a...