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Watson Wellness Center Prepares for COVID-19 Mobile Testing

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Alarmed by the state surge in the COVID-19 infections, members of local medical and nonprofit organizations vehemently petitioned the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to delay reopening places of commerce, leisure and worship.

Appearing to heed that advice, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency announced in June 29 that “given recent increases in COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates in our county and region, we are temporarily pausing our reopening plans.”

Encouraged by the county’s delay, Dr. Geoffrey Watson, of the James A. Watson Medical Center is preparing for new cases and hospitalizations he is seeing in the Black and Brown community.

Returning to his 1992 roots when his “Men’s Mobile Van” traveled to churches, recovery centers, gyms and midnight basketball events to screen folks for prostate cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and hypertension, Watson will use those same mobilization tactics to combat COVID-19.

“We reignited our mobile testing last month at Bishop Jerry Maclin’s Glad Tidings church in Hayward, and currently Pastor Brondon Rheems of the Center of Hope Community Church is writing a grant to pay for testing for all of his parishioners, Watson said.

“If funded, we will test his parishioners going to service. Those without a temperature will get a green band and be allowed to enter. Those that test ‘red’ will be sent home, and we will initiate contact tracing protocol.

“We have connected with Foundation laboratory and Quest laboratories for a new FDA test that produces results in five minutes. This test gives COVID-19 antibody rates that inform us of the stage of infection, and when clients possibly contracted the virus, which will allow more efficient contract tracing.”

Watson is seeking city and corporate funding for vans and the purchase of testing kits.

“For now, we’re reaching out to churches and setting up testing sites for parishioners, but if we are going to comprehensively respond to this pandemic, we have to go to more people in the community,” he said.

Funding will allow two teams of nurses to go into nursing homes, board-and-care homes, and test developmentally delayed people housed in close quarters. They can also go to homeless encampments and recovery centers.

Foundation Laboratories has given test-kits that have two swabs, where most testing kits only have one.

“The two swabs allow us to test for other viruses beyond SARS-COV-2 to inform people whether it’s the flu or COVID-19,” Watson said. “We would do pop-up testing with lab technicians we’ve partnered with.”

The James A. Watson Wellness Center has previously partnered with the Black Nurses Association, UCSF and pre-med students. “Our test-kits are the best out there,” Watson said. “Unfortunately, the tests are expensive, around $100 per kit, that’s why we’re seeking corporate support as these tests are not covered by insurance.”

Oakland Frontline Healers has petitioned the City Council to fund Watson’s work as well as, ROOTS Medical Clinics’ services and outreach and OFH’s 26 nonprofits distributing PPE, food and other services.

“Funds to do mobile testing in the community-at-large and accurate dissemination of information is critical right now,” Watson said. “We’re planning to publish preventative wellness weekly status reports in the Post Newspaper. This information will list the racial makeup of infection; where numbers are up or down; what COVID stage communities are in and allow our teams to safely go into communities with all the supplies, equipment, and staff needed for patients that cannot come to the clinic.”

For testing information call 510-444-9460, ex. 365.

 

 

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom and Gov. DeSantis Go Head-to-Head in Nationally Televised Debate

Conservative Fox News personality Sean Hannity moderated the duel, during which the TV pundit, more than once, injected his opinion, and appeared to be providing subtle assists to DeSantis. As the debate progressed, it was clear that opinions about each topic discussed was representative of the philosophical and political chasm that divides liberal and conservative America, and a preview of campaign mudslinging that is bound to intensify as the 2024 presidential campaign ensues.

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The debate between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Ron DeSantis was moderated by Fox News personality Sean Hannity. California Black Media image.
The debate between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Ron DeSantis was moderated by Fox News personality Sean Hannity. California Black Media image.

By California Black Media

In an intense, 95-minute-plus televised faceoff between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Nov. 30, the men traded jabs and putdowns, defended their respective gubernatorial records, disagreed sharply on how to solve the country’s most pressing problems, and expressed clashing views on the performance of the Biden-Harris administration.

Conservative Fox News personality Sean Hannity moderated the duel, during which the TV pundit, more than once, injected his opinion, and appeared to be providing subtle assists to DeSantis.

As the debate progressed, it was clear that opinions about each topic discussed was representative of the philosophical and political chasm that divides liberal and conservative America, and a preview of campaign mudslinging that is bound to intensify as the 2024 presidential campaign ensues.

“I’ll tell you why I’m here,” Newsom said. “I’m here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record and also compare and contrast Ron DeSantis’ record and the Republican Party’s record” with that of California.

DeSantis blasted Newsom’s management of the COVID-19 crisis and criticized Newsom for prevalent crime, homelessness and deteriorating social conditions in California cities.

“You have the freedom to defecate in public in California,” DeSantis said. “You have the freedom to pitch a tent on Sunset Boulevard. You have the freedom to create a homeless encampment under a freeway and even light it on fire. They’re not the freedoms our founding fathers envisioned.”

Newsom took a jab at DeSantis’ presidential candidacy, predicting that the Florida Governor would be endorsing GOP frontrunner Donald Trump soon.

“There’s one thing we have in common,” Newsom said. “Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

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BayCityNews

FDA Updates Approval of Pfizer Booster Vaccine for Children Under 5

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its approval Tuesday of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine, making it available to some children under age 5. Before this update, children under 5 were not eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. Instead, they received three doses of the regular vaccine.

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As of December 2022, children age 4 and younger who have not been vaccinated receive the omicron variant-specific booster vaccine as the third dose in their primary vaccine series, following two doses of the original Pfizer vaccine.
As of December 2022, children age 4 and younger who have not been vaccinated receive the omicron variant-specific booster vaccine as the third dose in their primary vaccine series, following two doses of the original Pfizer vaccine.

By Eli Walsh
Bay City News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its approval Tuesday of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine, making it available to some children under age 5.

Before this update, children under 5 were not eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. Instead, they received three doses of the regular vaccine.

As of December 2022, children age 4 and younger who have not been vaccinated receive the omicron variant-specific booster vaccine as the third dose in their primary vaccine series, following two doses of the original Pfizer vaccine.

However, children in that age range who completed their initial vaccination series before December 2022 only received three doses of the original Pfizer vaccine, and are less protected against more infectious variants of the virus as a result.

FDA officials updated the vaccine’s emergency use authorization Tuesday to allow those children who only received the original Pfizer COVID vaccine to receive one dose of the bivalent booster if it has been at least two months since they completed their initial series.

Other children under age 5 are not eligible for the booster, although everyone age 5 and up is eligible for a booster.

“Currently available data show that vaccination remains the best defense against severe disease, hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19 across all age groups, and we encourage all eligible individuals to make sure that their vaccinations are up to date with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

Clinical data has found that both the original Pfizer vaccine and the booster vaccine that targets the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are safe for everyone aged 6 months and up and effective at preventing the worst outcomes of COVID infection, including serious illness and death.

COVID vaccines are available at primary care providers, retail pharmacies and some facilities operated by local health departments.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Bay Area

COVID-19 Response Grant Program

The City of Union City will be issuing another round of its COVID-19 Response Grant Program. The program has distributed approximately $620,000 in grant funds and forgivable loans to the community to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and will distribute another $322,000 through this latest round of funding. The City will utilize federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act funds.

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The City will be holding two informational/technical assistance meetings to support residents and businesses with their applications and respond to any questions. These meetings will be streamed via Zoom. See below for meeting information and Zoom meeting links.
The City will be holding two informational/technical assistance meetings to support residents and businesses with their applications and respond to any questions. These meetings will be streamed via Zoom. See below for meeting information and Zoom meeting links.

The City of Union City will be issuing another round of its COVID-19 Response Grant Program. The program has distributed approximately $620,000 in grant funds and forgivable loans to the community to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and will distribute another $322,000 through this latest round of funding. The City will utilize federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act funds.

Grants are available through the City’s Road to Recovery Small Business Assistance Program and the Residential Rental Assistance Program. The City began accepting applications on March 6, 2023, at 9 a.m. and will begin reviewing applications (up to 50 applications for each grant opportunity) submitted on or before March 30, 2023, at 5 p.m. The program information and the online application are available on the City’s website:

https://www.unioncity.org/548/COVID-19-Response-Grant-Program

The City will be holding two informational/technical assistance meetings to support residents and businesses with their applications and respond to any questions. These meetings will be streamed via Zoom. See below for meeting information and Zoom meeting links.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

https://unioncity-org.zoom.us/j/89061570160

Wednesday, March 15, 2023: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

https://unioncity-org.zoom.us/j/81868680531

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