State officials approved more than $41 million for monkeypox testing and treatment after state legislators representing San Francisco urged for its inclusion in the state budget.
Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, first called for dedicated state funding for the MPX outbreak in July, when the virus was first taking root in the city.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 179, an amendment to the state’s budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year including $41.5 million for the state’s emergency response to the MPX outbreak.
“Because of the slow federal response this summer, state and local efforts have been key to addressing the MPX virus,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, the chair of the Assembly’s Budget Committee. “This funding not only keeps resources flowing, but it also builds them up.”
As of Friday, the state has tallied 4,302 suspected and confirmed cases of the virus, the most of any state in the U.S. and roughly 20 percent of the 21,894 that have been confirmed nationwide.
San Francisco has remained one of the state’s epicenters during the outbreak, with 763 reported cases comprising nearly 18 percent of the state’s case total. Only Los Angeles County has more reported cases, according to data from the California Department of Public Health.
While MPX vaccine allocation from the federal government has plodded through much of the summer, public health officials have suggested that the outbreak may be starting to wane, with nearly 140,000 vaccine doses administered statewide.
State officials suggested in July that California would conservatively need between 600,000 and 800,000 doses of the two-dose Jynneos vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox to vaccinate those at highest risk of contracting the virus.
Roughly $25.7 million of the funding will go to the CDPH while the remaining $15.8 million will be dispersed to local health departments and community-based organizations.
State public health officials plan to coordinate with local health agencies to determine the most effective way to use the funding to expand testing and vaccine access while also educating people about the risks of spreading and contracting MPX.
“One of the lessons we learned from COVID is that without a coordinated public health response, a virus can rebound,” said Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco. “It’s going to take a lot of work to maintain the current downward trend. That’s why this funding is so essential.”
State legislators will determine when the legislative session resumes in January whether to allocate more funding toward MPX response.
I say use the money and buy all Californians a new muffler bearing for their car.
I second that in excess of $3000.00 for a catalytic converter is outrageous and a clear cash grab
And a battery bushing for your Tesla.
I saw a cartoon of a woman working on her car mumbling something about how she doesn’t need a mans help as she was pouring oil into her radiator. She may need more oil.
Slow learners
4,302 suspected and confirmed cases
Slow learners about what? I am not in an at-risk category are you? There’s only one way to get monkey pox and I don’t engage in said activities. Please share the information with “us” slow learners since you’re so “big brained” and all…
bdmlpratt did I call you a slow learner? Not sure why the attack but if I knew I could get monkey pox from tonight’s date I wouldn’t even be holding hands.
Signed Big Brain.
A better approach would be to “just say no” for a while.
But certain behaviors are excused from responsibility.
Instead of being responsible, millions of dollars will be spent with nothing to show for the expense but a few politicians getting wealthier.
Close the Castro til further notice
Here we go again!! Taxpayers footing the bill for a small group of degenerates who must have their way or will protest and destroy to get their way!!
From the first day of the liberal media declaring the outbreak of MBox, the photos provided onscreen were black individuals hands and body. It then announced that most of the cases came as a result of travelers from or returning from trips to somewhere in Africa. Then, “Weenie-Weiner” jumps up and down that the Feds are not helping.
Why doesn’t “Weenie-Weiner” and his gay compatriots take these lost ones into their homes?? Better yet ole Pelosi has an estate where she can provide tents for them to stay to recover! How’s that for being magnanimous??
What the hell…..it’s only money, and we have piles!
And freshly printed too! 😄
Gavin’s money laundering again.
How ’bout this one, WC – Spending other people’s money is fun, and apparently addicting.
Stop the madness.
https://tinyurl.com/4ujtc6ny
Keep your scupper out of the pooper, problem solved.
When the first case came out the first words out of there mouths was don’t worry it’s not that contagious.The jerks have no clue.
Wanna read the Budget bill and see where Pharoah Newsom is spending YOUR money?
Let’s start with Page 4 item 9:
“Of the amount appropriated in Schedule (3),
$15,000,000 is appropriated for the purpose of providing court users access to a lactation room in any courthouse in which a lactation room is also provided to court employees.”
Enjoy life in Suckville…
https://trackbill.com/bill/california-assembly-bill-179-budget-act-of-2022/1971420/
Oh great another Democrat money grab. I’m sure there will be no oversight as to where the money goes as usual.
“One of the lessons we learned from COVID is that without a coordinated public health response, a virus can rebound,”
I solemnly pledge to CONTINUE to eschew participation in the behaviors that spread this plague.
Now if only you could convince the Posterior Pirates to do the same.
But that would require self control, which apparently they don’t have.
“One of the lessons we learned from Covid, is that if you f*** anything that moves, a virus can rebound”.
And if you put a bullet in the furnace, it will explode. We are dealing with some really sharp minds here.
So why exactly, should all the responsible adults have to finance this irresponsible debauchery?
Oh yeah, because they aren’t capable of financing their own debauchery. How silly of me.
Weiner in charge of the weiners..makes perfect sense. I’m sure he’s in top of it, or he might be a bottom..
In any case, it’s simple how to avoid the pox, keep it in your pants and away from your same sex friends..