Take this jab and shove it

Presented by Blue Shield of California Foundation: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Oct 26, 2023 View in browser   By Rachel Bluth Presented by Blue Shield of California Foundation A pharmacist prepares to administer a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot. | Scott Olson/Getty Images Programming note: There will be no California Playbook PM next week. Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back soon! BOOSTER BUMMER:  Californians are so over the pandemic. The state that once boasted the best vaccination rate in the country now reports that just 4.6 percent of people have received the latest Covid booster shot. That’s bad news ahead of winter, when state public health officials anticipate an annual surge of the virus that is expected to coincide with waning immunity from the last round of boosters. Nearly 60 percent of Californians were up to date on the vaccine this time last year. Part of the problem appears to be Covid fatigue, Dr. Tomás Aragón, the state’s public health officer, said at a press briefing today. People view the shot as an endless series of doses and boosters instead of an annual one-dose routine like the flu shot. We’re also witnessing the end of the pandemic era — and of government programs that made the shot free to everyone. “There’s commercialization: People were accustomed to having things more widely available,” Aragón said. “I think there’s going to be some bumps in the road as we go through this transition.” That shift is showing up in the widening gaps in vaccination rates among rich and poor. The vaccination rate among the state’s top quartile of earners is almost 9 percent. For the bottom quartile, it’s less than 2 percent. When President Joe Biden ended the federal public health emergency in May, that also ended the federal program that made vaccines, tests and treatment available for free. Last month, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a temporary program to help people get vaccinated for free, but that runs through the nation’s safety net clinics that have always cared for the uninsured. After three years of being able to walk into a CVS or Walgreens and leave with a free Covid shot, it’s going to take time for people to adjust. Aragón also flagged the number of those 65 and up that have been vaccinated. While they are at 14 percent, that’s still far too low for a high-risk group, he said. “That's not good enough,” Aragón said. “We should really be seeing much higher rates.” IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to rbluth@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open.   A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation: This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, learn the latest on domestic violence prevention in California and how to prioritize survivors and their families in policy decisions. Listen now to the four-part podcast series by Blue Shield of California Foundation.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY POINTING FINGERS: Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed Maine Republicans on social media for rejecting a gun control bill that would have required a 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases earlier this year. His comments came after a gunman opened fire and killed at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city, on Wednesday. Newsom pointed the finger at Republicans, though Democrats have control of both Maine’s House and Senate. The June legislation’s rejection was bipartisan, failing in the House 73-69, with 65 Republicans and seven Democrats voting against, and in the Senate 24-11, with all 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats voting against.   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO APP: Stay in the know with the POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID.     On The Beats Larry Elder | Marcio Jose Sanchez, File/AP Photo ELDER OUT: Republican Larry Elder has pulled the plug on his short-lived presidential bid, suspending his faltering campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump. The conservative talk radio icon was unable to capitalize on the momentum from his surprisingly strong showing in the 2021 campaign to recall Newsom. Elder easily outpolled the other Republicans vying to replace Newsom but struggled in the presidential field, failing to garner enough support to win a spot on the debate stage. — Jeremy B. White SUBBING OUT: Fresno substitute teachers have voted to strike in solidarity with teachers next week — complicating the Fresno Unified School District’s plan of keeping schools open during a looming walkout by doubling substitutes’ pay. The district in response to the Wednesday vote filed complaints with the California Public Employment Relations Board and in court today — alleging the substitutes’ contract bars them from going on sympathy strikes. The district teachers union is poised to walk off the job for the first time in 45 years on Nov. 1. Teachers and the state’s third-largest school district have been bargaining for nearly a year but still remain apart on health care coverage, caps on class sizes and more. And there’s no sign they’ll resolve those issues before learning is disrupted for more than 69,000 students. —Blake Jones   A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation:   WHAT WE'RE CLICKING BUSINESS AND POLITICS: Federal agents raided two supermarkets owned by Sacramento City Councilmember Sean Loloee, forcing both to close for at least part of the day. Authorities didn’t comment, but The Sacramento Bee points out that Loloee has been accused in the past of wage theft, failing to pay minimum wage and overtime, violating child labor laws and threatening employees with deportation for cooperating with investigators. (The Sacramento Bee) A HAPPIER PLACE: The lowest-paid workers at Disneyland appear to be on track to get pay raises now that the California Supreme Court has turned back the company’s challenge to a class-action lawsuit. The suit sought to force Disneyland to pay the $15 minimum wage imposed by the city of Anaheim in 2018 for people who work in its resort district. (Los Angeles Times)   SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.       A message from Blue Shield of California Foundation: Each episode of “Let’s End Domestic Violence: Heal, Restore, Prevent” highlights different themes surrounding domestic violence and features leaders across California, including State Senator Susan Rubio. Listen to the first three episodes now and visit letsenddv.org for additional resources. ● Episode 1: Breaking the Cycle: Multigenerational Prevention ● Episode 2: Healing From DV: Restorative Practices ● Episode 3: Domestic Violence & Housing Insecurity ● Episode 4: Elevating Solutions and Impacts in the Black Community     Follow us on Twitter POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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