HHS Recent News

January 21, 2021

January 14, 2021

California expanded access to the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to those 65 years old and older today, adding six million more people to the vaccine line on top of the 1.5 million healthcare workers and long-term care residents prioritized for vaccination.  

The expansion to those 65 and up comes as the rollout of vaccinations continues to be bumpy in California, with little state coordination and multiple entities tasked with identifying eligible recipients and administering the vaccine.

January 7, 2021

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the request from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), for a 12-month extension to the current Section 1115(a) Medicaid Waiver. 

January 7, 2021

Counties seeking to increase the number of personnel who can administer the COVID-19 vaccines may allow paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to do so after receiving approval from the state Emergency Medical Services Authority.

December 17, 2020

The Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released their much anticipated draft guide on efforts needed to diminish the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress.

December 10, 2020

Governor Newsom today appointed San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón to lead the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and serve as the state’s Health Officer. Dr. Aragón is a welcome addition to CPDH, where newly appointed State Epidemiologist and former Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan has been holding down the fort during this difficult time. Dr. Aragon replaces former CDPH Director Dr. Sonia Angell, who resigned abruptly this summer.

December 10, 2020

Governor Newsom reported last week that official requests for the initial 327,000 doses of vaccines would be submitted Friday, December 4. It was announced this week that the submission for those vaccine doses were made with anticipated California delivery of December 15.

During a press conference this week, Governor Newsom reiterated that the state continues to plan for a safe and equitable vaccine distribution. The update included the anticipated FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine on December 10 and Moderna around December 17.

December 3, 2020

This week, Governor Newsom released the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. The Master Plan is the result of more than a year of collaboration between the California Health and Human Services Agency, researchers, and other stakeholders. This framework outlines a vision for California to achieve a comprehensive and equitable early learning and care system by 2030.

The Master Plan outlines this vision through four overarching goals:

November 20, 2020