Membership Matters

SFDPH and Marin Issue COVID-19 Vaccination Updates

As the COVID-19 delta variant is spreading in San Francisco and the Bay Area, the San Francisco Department of Public Health released a situational update with vaccine guidance for providers and patients. The Health Advisory includes resources for vaccine administrators, patients, and guidance on the supplemental vaccine dose in J&J recipients. The full document is published in this issue of the SFMMS journal and at https:// www.sfcdcp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Advisory-COVIDVaccination-Update-FINAL-2021.08.06.pdf

For Marin, see in this journal and at: https://www.marinhhs. org/sites/default/files/files/public-health-updates/advisory_-_ covid-19_update_-_order_2021.07.29.pdf

ALERT: Counseling Patients on When to Get Vaccinated After a Covid-19 Illness

The San Francisco Vaccine Call Center for Covid-19 helps arrange appointments for people who need vaccine and are having difficulty navigating the system or are uncertain about eligibility. It is important that primary physicians are aware of current recommendations regarding when vaccine can be given after a Covid illness. While originally, the CDC suggested patients could wait 90 days, this is no longer true. Patients should be vaccinated as soon as possible after they have met criteria for end of isolation (10 days since symptom onset, no fever in the last 24 hours and symptom improvement). The only individuals who should wait 90 days are those who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as a treatment during their illness. For more information see: https://www. cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid19-vaccines-us.html#Administration

Patients may call the Vaccine Call Center at 628-652-2700 Monday through Friday to obtain appointments for vaccine, or email us at sfvaxnow.sfdph.org. Health care personnel that have questions about testing, isolation and quarantine, and vaccination are welcome to call the Clinical Consult Line at 628-652-2830.

A Message From SFMMS’ Political Action Committee: Support Governor Gavin Newsom by Voting No on the Republican Recall on September 14

On September 14, Californians will vote on whether to recall Governor Newsom and replace him as Governor of California. The Board of Directors for the Political Action Committee of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society encourages physicians and members of our community in San Francisco and Marin Counties to vote no on the recall.

The recall election was triggered by Republicans seeking to replace the Governor despite his strong support for health care coverage and access, support for early childhood education, California’s strong economic performance and budget surplus, and a science-informed response to the coronavirus pandemic that has saved many lives. Early in his term, when addressing the California Medical Association, Governor Newsom referred to himself as “your health care Governor.”

“Governor Newsom was elected in 2018 with nearly 62 percent of the vote. If he is recalled, he will be replaced with a Republican candidate with a fraction of that support,” said Dr. Joseph Woo, Chair of the SFMMS PAC. “California will lose our momentum on issues related to health and health care, climate change, wildfire management, and more.”

The recall of Governor Newsom is opposed by key leaders throughout the state, including the California Labor Federation, the California Teachers Association, the Los Angeles Business Council, the Valley Industry & Commerce Association, the Sierra Club California, the California Environmental Justice Alliance, the California League of Conservation Voters, and The Sacramento Bee.

Working Together to Safely Reopen Schools Now!

After a year of school closures, there is excitement and hope mixed with understandable fear and uncertainty. Parents, teachers, and community members are wondering what it will look like to go back to in-person learning. They are reasonably asking if it will be safe for everyone. A group led by doctors (including SFMMS past-president Kimberly Newell Green, MD), parents, teachers and community leaders are launching this effort to answer those questions. For information, see: https:// www.safelyopenschoolsnow.org/

Open Safe Consumption Sites (SFMMS Letter in the San Francisco Chronicle)

Regarding “Safe site obvious step to curb drug deaths” (Aug. 8): Heather Knight gets it sadly correct. Safe consumption sites are now endorsed by mainstream medical and public health groups, including the San Francisco Marin Medical Society and even the American Medical Association. A couple of years ago, a mock demonstration site was set up in the Tenderloin to show how they work. Coincidentally, the American Society of Addiction Medicine was meeting in a hotel just across the street.

Many addiction physicians there, some of whom were initially skeptical about such an intervention, toured the site and came out in favor of instituting them in this time of crisis, as such sites do not encourage use but actually can help get drug users to stop doing so.

This is indeed a sad replay of the prolonged struggle to legalize syringe exchange programs, now long shown to curtail both addiction and infectious diseases. It’s time our political leaders follow expert opinion and evidence some compassion as well in allowing and supporting safe consumption sites to open in our city and state. – Monique Schaulis, MD, president, San Francisco Marin Medical Society

Registration for the 18th Annual Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) Summit is Live

This year's summit will be virtual and cover topics critical to diverse physicians and patients including COVID-19, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), health outcome disparities in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and

CMA Updates Return-to-Work FAQ with Information on New Vaccination Mandate

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across California, Governor Gavin Newsom took action last week to require all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week. To help physicians understand these new requirements as they relate to health care, CMA has updated its return-to-work FAQ— Returning to the Physical Workplace: Legal parameters and considerations for employers.

Financial Support for Covid Vaccination in Your Practice

CalVaxGrant, a new state program to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates, has expanded its scope and extended the application cycle to reach more Californians. In addition to physicians and medical practices*, independent pharmacies can now apply to receive up to $55,000 in support of their vaccination efforts.

Eligible providers can be reimbursed for related expenses incurred since November 2020 and through November 2021, including staffing and training (most common expenses), technology, infrastructure, supplies and equipment, and administrative overhead.

The application cycle has been extended until Friday, September 10, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT and is first come, first served. CMA encourages physicians to apply early to capitalize on this grant funding. For more information: https://www.phcdocs.org/News/calvaxgrant-provides-physician-practices-up-to-55000-for-covid-19-vaccine-administration

Local Support: SFMMS Community Service Foundation Nominations Welcome

The San Francisco Marin Medical Society Community Service Foundation (SFMMS CSF) was founded to serve as a conduit for funds to and from patrons and community organizations. Over the years, the SFMMS CSF has helped to address issues ranging from medical ethics to organ donor shortages by providing tax-deductible donations.

SFMMS' Executive Committee reviews nominations from SFMMS members and awards small grants. Recent grantees have included Operation Access, the San Francisco Free Clinic, the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, NovatoSpirit, the San Rafael Canal Alliance, and more. The SFMMS CSF is proud to support organizations dedicated to serving vulnerable populations in San Francisco and Marin Counties.

For information on the SFMMS CSF or new potential grantee nominations, please contact Steve Heilig at: heilig@sfmms.org.

November will bring the 2021 election of San Francisco Marin Medical Society officers, committee members and delegate representatives.

This year, the slate of candidates’ biographies will be posted online for your consideration. By mid-September, the 2021 candidate biographies and statements of interest of the nominees for Board Officers, Board Directors, SFMMS House of Delegates to CMA, Nominations Committee, CMA Young Physicians Section, and AMA Delegation will be posted online and available for viewing by visiting our website at: http://www.sfmms.org/ advocacy/leadership-opportunities, or by scanning the QR code below from your smartphone.

Please note, online voting for all eligible members will open at 5pm on October 19th. All votes must be cast by 5 p.m. on November 2nd, 2021. Please stay tuned for more details on the full slate of candidates and how to cast your electronic vote. For questions, contact Ian Knox, Director of Operations & Governance at iknox@sfmms.org.

Editor Gordon L. Fung, MD, PhD, FACC, FACP Managing Editor Steve Heilig, MPH Production Maureen Erwin

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor Gordon L. Fung, MD, PhD, FACC, FACP Tonie Brayer, MD Linda Clever, MD Anne Cummings, MD Irina DeFischer, MD Shieva Khayam-Bashi, MD John Maa, MD David Pating, MD

SFMMS OFFICERS

President Monique Schaulis, MD, MPH President-elect

Michael C. Schrader, MD, PhD, FACP Secretary Dennis Song, MD, DDS Treasurer Heyman Oo, MD, MPH Immediate Past President Brian Grady, MD

SFMMS STAFF

Executive Director

Conrad Amenta Associate Executive Director, Public Health and Education

Steve Heilig, MPH Director of Operations and Governance

Ian Knox Director of Engagement

Molly Baldridge, MPH Staff Associate

Ashley Coskey

2021 SFMMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Edward Alfrey, MD Ayanna Bennett, MD Julie Bokser, MD Keith Chamberlin, MD Anne Cummings, MD Nida F. Degesys, MD Manal Elkarra, MD Beth Griffiths, MD Robert A. Harvey, MD Harrison Hines, MD Zarah Iqbal, MD Michael K. Kwok, MD Jason R. Nau, MD Sarita Satpathy, MD Kristen Swann, MD Kenneth Tai, MD Melanie Thompson, DO Winnie Tong, MD Matthew D. Willis, MD, MPH Joseph W. Woo, MD Andrea Yeung, MD