Tag Archives: appointment

US

Justice Department formally appeals appointment of special master in Mar-a-Lago documents case

Leave a comment



CNN
 — 

The Justice Department officially appealed the appointment of the special master, who is overseeing the review of documents seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, in a brief filed with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday.

The Justice Department centered their brief on sweeping criticism of lower court Judge Aileen Cannon’s actions, arguing she had no authority to interfere with their federal criminal investigation. The Justice Department is asking the federal appeals court to invalidate Cannon’s order and end the special master’s review of documents.

“District courts have no general equitable authority to superintend federal criminal investigations,” the brief said. “[I]nstead, challenges to the government’s use of the evidence recovered in a search are resolved through ordinary criminal motions practice if and when charges are filed. Here, however, the district court granted the extraordinary relief Plaintiff sought….”

The Justice Department also argued that Trump had no basis to interfere with the review of executive branch documents by the Justice Department, which itself is part of the executive branch.

Plus, department attorneys pointed out that Trump never made any claim of attorney-client privilege over the 11,000 documents taken from Mar-a-Lago in August that would have justified the appointment of a special master. The Justice Department argued that the filter procedures it has already employed were sufficient to shield any sensitive documents from investigators’ review.

“[Trump] has no plausible claim of such a privilege with respect to the records bearing classification markings or any other government documents related to his official duties,” the Justice Department brief said.

The Justice Department said all of the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago could be evidence of crimes.

The department argued investigators need access to the classified documents given they are looking at the potential crime of unauthorized retention of national defense information and also to be able to assess the potential risk to national security if it was disclosed. The department said investigators need access to the unclassified documents because they could be evidence that government records were unlawfully concealed or removed.

The federal appeals court granted the department’s request last month to block certain aspects of an order from Cannon. This appeal contests the entire order from Cannon, who granted Trump’s request to designate a third party to review the documents seized from his Florida estate.

The special master – Raymond Dearie, a senior federal judge based in Brooklyn – has already started the process for the review. If the department is ultimately successful in its appeal, the special master could be ordered to halt the review process.

This appeals process, however, will take at least several weeks. While a federal judge did grant the department’s request to expedite the appeal, Trump’s legal team still has until November 10 to file a response, and the 11th Circuit will not schedule oral arguments until after the department files a subsequent reply on November 17.

As it stands now, the special master’s review must be complete by December 16, a timeline set into motion by Cannon, a Trump appointee.

After the 11th Circuit stepped in last month to allow the Justice Department access to about 100 of the documents marked classified, Trump filed an emergency request asking the Supreme Court to intervene in that dispute. On Thursday, the high court refused his request.

The Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene means that, for now, the classified documents will stay out of the reach of the special master.

The department, in its Supreme Court filing, had argued that the 11th US Circuit found that Cannon “abused her discretion” and inflicted “a serious and unwarranted intrusion on the Executive Branch’s authority to control the use and distribution of extraordinarily sensitive government records.”

The DOJ says the seized documents taken from Mar-a-Lago during the FBI search amount to 21,792 pages. The collection excludes materials seized by the FBI that have already been filtered out for privacy and the 100 documents marked as classified found in the search.

There’s been a years-long pursuit from the National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA, to reclaim all records that belong to the federal government that were created during the Trump administration.

NARA’s back-and-forth with Trump and his liaisons led earlier this year to the return of boxes and envelopes full of records by former administration officials and lawyers. NARA’s findings in one of those collections prompted a Justice Department investigation into the mishandling of classified records and August’s search of Mar-a-Lago. NARA has said that certain presidential records from the Trump administration remain outstanding, citing information that some White House staff used non-official electronic systems to conduct official business.

The DOJ’s appeal of the appointment of a special master comes days after CNN reported that a Trump employee told the FBI about being directed by the former President to move boxes out of a basement storage room to his residence at Mar-a-Lago – after Trump’s legal team received a subpoena for any classified documents at the Florida estate.

The Trump employee initially denied handling sensitive documents or boxes at Mar-a-Lago, according to the source. But the FBI developed evidence that prompted investigators to go back to the witness, who revised their story to say Trump had given instructions to move the boxes, the source said.

The witness account of Trump’s actions after the subpoena was served in May coupled with the footage could be key to the federal criminal investigation that’s looking into a range of potential crimes, including obstruction, destruction of government records and mishandling of classified information.

The Department of Justice has previously alleged that classified documents at the resort were “likely concealed and removed” from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago as part of an effort to “obstruct” the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s potential mishandling of classified materials.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

Read original article here

World

Sweden PM Andersson resigns over budget crisis hours after appointment

Leave a comment

A screen grab captured from a video shows Magdalena Andersson, the first female prime minister in Sweden speaking during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on November 24, 2021. (Photo by Swedish Parliament/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Swedish Parliament | Handout | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Sweden’s first-ever female prime minister, Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson, has resigned just hours after being appointed, deepening political uncertainty.

Andersson said Wednesday that she was forced to resign after her budget bill failed and the Green Party quit their two-party coalition government. She had been announced as leader earlier in the day to a standing ovation by some sectors of the parliament.

Instead, lawmakers in the Riksdag voted in favor of a budget tabled by the opposition that includes the anti-immigration right-wing party of the Sweden Democrats.

Andersson told reporters she hoped to be reappointed prime minister as the head of a single-party government.

“I have asked the speaker to be relieved of my duties as prime minister,” Andersson told a media conference. “I am ready to be prime minister in a single-party, Social Democrat government.”

The Green Party and the socialist Left Party have both said they are prepared to support the re-appointment of Andersson, who previously served as finance minister for seven years under her predecessor Stefan Lofven.

Sweden’s Center Party, meanwhile, has said it would abstain, which effectively paves the way for Andersson to get the top job once again.

The parties had been unable to approve a budget bill in a fragmented political landscape, but they are seen to be united in the aim of preventing the Sweden Democrats from having a role in government.

“Magdalena Andersson stands by her word to deliver on the agreement we have concluded and the Center Party will release her as Prime Minister,” Annie Loof, leader of the country’s Center Party, said on Wednesday via Twitter.

“We are now making sure, once again, that Sweden can have a government that is not dependent on [the Sweden Democrats],” she added.

Parliamentary speaker Andreas Nolen is expected to announce the next steps to form a new government on Thursday.

A political milestone

Andersson’s appointment at the head of a minority coalition government came after a last-minute deal with the opposition Left Party.

Under Sweden’s Constitution, prime ministers can govern if they have the backing of a parliamentary majority — which means a minimum of 175 lawmakers in the 349-member Riksdag.

The 54-year-old secured her role as prime minister after 117 members of parliament supported her candidacy, with a further 59 abstentions.

A total of 179 members of parliament had voted against her, meaning Andersson became the country’s first-ever female prime minister by just a single vote.

It represented a milestone in Sweden, viewed for decades as one of Europe’s most progressive countries on gender relations despite being the only Nordic state not to have had a woman in the role of prime minister.

Andersson had been picked as the Social Democrat’s leader after Lofven relinquished his roles as party leader and prime minister earlier this year.

Sweden’s next general election is scheduled for Sept. 11 next year.

Read original article here

Health

How to get a covid-19 vaccine appointment for your child

Leave a comment

Pfizer began packing up pediatric doses to be distributed shortly after, with the company saying 11 million doses are expected to go out in the first 10 days — but some families may not know the best way to get a vaccination for their children.

The first step is to call your pediatrician’s office and see when their next appointment is available, Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst, said.

If the wait time is just a matter of days, Wen said she would wait and take the appointment. For those who are booked for weeks, it may be best to get on a waitlist with the physician and look for other options.

Chain and local pharmacies can be the next stop, recommended Wen, who is also an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

“Make sure to mention your child’s exact age, as some places may not give shots to young kids. If they are not sure yet, call back the next day — a lot is changing very quickly,” she said.

Walgreens announced its pharmacies will begin administering pediatric Covid-19 vaccines across the nation beginning Saturday. Parents and guardians are able to make appointments on the website for the first vaccine dose shipments, and more appointments will become available as more shipments arrive, the company said in a news release.

Local health departments may also be able to provide information on vaccine clinics, Wen added.

More than half of US states do not specify that their vaccinations are for residents only, meaning if you have trouble securing an appointment locally, you may be able to be vaccinated in a nearby state.

Families should get kids vaccinated as soon as possible, experts say

The recommendation of the vaccine to children should be a cause for celebration, but it’s understandable if parents still have questions, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Wednesday.

“We are now beginning to roll out, to distribute the vaccine, to give parents the information that they need,” she said. “Go talk to your pediatrician, your trusted health care provider, your pharmacist and get the information that you need as we start scaling up vaccine across this country.”

The US has been preparing for children to become eligible for the vaccine, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN’s Brianna Keilar on New Day Wednesday that officials plan to make doses available quickly.

“That was what the preparedness was about,” Fauci said. “It’s a good thing. We’ll hit the ground running and probably by the beginning of next week, we’ll be at full speed.”

Children won’t have the chance to be fully vaccinated — which is two weeks after their second dose — by Thanksgiving or Hanukkah, but with a first appointment by November 19, they can have full protection for Christmas, Kwanzaa and end-of-year gatherings.

If families and friends are getting together indoors for the holidays, it is crucial that children who can be vaccinated are, Wen said.

“There is a common, but very false, narrative out there that somehow children are not susceptible to severe outcomes from Covid-19, which is just not true,” Wen said. “Understandably, parents want to protect their children.”

CNN’s Naomi Thomas contributed to this report.

Read original article here

Entertainment

‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Mike Richards’ appointment as host dragged online by fans: ‘Stupidity’

Leave a comment

“Jeopardy!” fans have something to say.

On Wednesday morning, the popular game show announced that Mike Richards, an executive producer on the show, would take over hosting reigns alongside actress Mayim Bialik.

Fans have been eager to learn who would replace the late Alex Trebek on the show for many months now with Trebek’s final episode having aired in January.

Since then, a number of guests hosts – including Bialik and Richards – have filled in while executives chose who would serve as a permanent replacement.

‘JEOPARDY!’ ANNOUNCES MAYIM BIALIK, MIKE RICHARDS AS PERMANENT HOSTS TO REPLACE ALEX TREBEK

News that Richards was in the running broke last week, which was quickly followed by news that he’d been involved in controversy in the past.

‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Mike Richards will fill Alex Trebek’s shoes as a host of the show.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)

Wednesday’s announcement saw Bialik congratulated for her new gig, but fans weren’t too happy to see Richards step into the permanent role of host – and would have preferred to see guest host LeVar Burton be offered the position.

“How did @Jeopardy put its future in #jeopardy by casting [its] own exec when @levarburton was willing, capable, ready and wanted??!?!” wrote a fan.

MIKE RICHARDS ADDRESSES ‘THE PRICE IS RIGHT’ DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT, ‘JEOPARDY!’ HOST RUMORS

In response to a headline sharing Richards’ casting, another added: “And with that, my search for an alternative to @Jeopardy begins… preferably something with @levarburton.”

“Levar Burton is MY Jeopardy host,” yet another stated.

A fourth called Bialik’s casting a “great choice” and congratulated the “Big Bang Theory” star, but called Richards’ addition to the roster “stupidity” and encouraged the show to “fix” the situation.

RUMORED NEW ‘JEOPARDY!’ HOST MIKE RICHARDS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR 2010 PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION SUIT

Even actress Yvette Nicole Brown joined the chorus of those disappointed in how the ordeal played out.

“I have said many times before I love me some @missmayim in any and every genre or form I can get her. I am very happy for her. Know that,” she wrote. “Still, the way the search was handled did @levarburton dirty. That’s not on Mayim. That’s on @jeopardy & the powers that be. #Shame.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Burton has long been a fan favorite to fill the slot following Trebek’s death. He guest-hosted the show for several episodes that aired in July after fan petitions circulated online calling for the “Star Trek: Generations” actor to be given a crack at the hosting gig.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER



Read original article here

Business

Stanislaus County expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 16 and older

Leave a comment

Stanislaus County has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to residents ages 16 and older on Thursday. The increased range of eligible recipients comes as the state expanded its own eligibility guidelines to include residents 50 years and older. The state’s changes also took effect this Thursday. Stanislaus County is among other counties that have further widened its pool of people able to sign up for a vaccine.Below are three things to know about signing up for a dose in Stanislaus County.Underserved communities helped the county get to ages 16 and olderStanislaus County was able to expand eligibility thanks in part to state criteria that focus vaccination efforts in underserved communities. Kamlesh Kaur, a spokeswoman for the county’s public health department said, “In Stanislaus County, 23 out of 24 zip codes falls under the lower two quartiles of HPI index.”Residents have different ways to get a vaccineResidents may either walk in or book an appointment 48 hours ahead of time. Locations can be found here, and appointments may be booked through the Stanislaus website, or through My Turn. Patients who book appointments and do not live in the county will be turned away and their appointments canceled. More than half of the next allocation of doses are already reservedThe county has allocated 14,200 for the first week of expanding eligibility to residents 16 and older. Seventy percent of the doses were set aside for patients who booked appointments.

MODESTO, Calif. —

Stanislaus County has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to residents ages 16 and older on Thursday.

The increased range of eligible recipients comes as the state expanded its own eligibility guidelines to include residents 50 years and older. The state’s changes also took effect this Thursday.

Stanislaus County is among other counties that have further widened its pool of people able to sign up for a vaccine.

Below are three things to know about signing up for a dose in Stanislaus County.

Underserved communities helped the county get to ages 16 and older

Stanislaus County was able to expand eligibility thanks in part to state criteria that focus vaccination efforts in underserved communities.

Kamlesh Kaur, a spokeswoman for the county’s public health department said, “In Stanislaus County, 23 out of 24 zip codes falls under the lower two quartiles of HPI index.”

Residents have different ways to get a vaccine

Residents may either walk in or book an appointment 48 hours ahead of time.

Locations can be found here, and appointments may be booked through the Stanislaus website, or through My Turn.

Patients who book appointments and do not live in the county will be turned away and their appointments canceled.

More than half of the next allocation of doses are already reserved

The county has allocated 14,200 for the first week of expanding eligibility to residents 16 and older.

Seventy percent of the doses were set aside for patients who booked appointments.

Read original article here

Health

How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in these NorCal counties

Leave a comment

How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in these NorCal counties



FOUND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET AN APPOINTMENT. >> IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IF WE HAD A LONGER OUTLOOK, IF WE KNEW WHAT OUR VACCINE DOSAGES WOULD BE TWO, THREE WEEKS FROM NOW. THE REPORTER: CALIFORNIA COUNTIES LEARN HOW MANY DOSES OF THE VACCINE THEY’LL BE GETTING. ABOUT A WEEK AHEAD OF DELIVERY, MAKING IT CHALLENGING TO PLAN AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS IN ADVANC APPOINTMENTS AT THIS DRIVE-THRU CLINIC AT MCCLELLAN PARK WAS TODAY. STARTING THURSDAY, CALIFORNIANS 50 AND OLDER WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE. WE CALLED COUNTIES IN OUR AREA TO FIND OUT HOW THEY’RE HANDLING THE APPOINTMENTS. SACRAMENTO, YOLO, AND PLACER COUNTIES ARE ONLY ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS. IN STANISLAUS COUNTY, APPOINTMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED, AND CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE MY TURN WEB SITE. BUT WALK-INS ARE ALLOWED, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. >> EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED, IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE A DOSE WITH THEIR NAME ON IT. >> The Reporter: WHILE MOST COUNTIES AREN’T ALLOWING PEOPLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS AHEAD OF BECOMING ELIGIBLE, SOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE. DIGNITY HEALTH ALLOWS PEOPLE ELIGIBLE THURSDAY TO BOOK NOW, KAISER-PERMANENTE DOES NOT. COUNTY OFFICIALS URGE PEOPLE TO CHECK WITH THEIR PROVIDERS AND PHARMACIES, AS THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE AND APPOINTMENTS BECOME AVAILA

How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in these NorCal counties

Millions of Californians will become eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine this week as eligibility will expand to people ages 50 and older.Leer en españolThose new guidelines will begin this Thursday, and on April 15, any Californian ages 16 and older will become eligible. What remains an issue in the fight against the virus is supply, which continues to be limited across the state. Some Northern California county officials said the state tells them about a week in advance how many doses will be delivered for the following week, which makes planning clinics and appointments challenging.KCRA 3 reached out to counties and health care providers to see what options are available for people trying to make vaccination appointments.Sacramento CountyAppointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.On April 1, appointments will be opened to those ages 50 and older.Appointments necessary at this time.No walk-up clinics.Appointments can be made through the county’s website.Yolo CountyAppointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.It’s possible some appointments may be opened this week for those becoming eligible April 1.Appointments necessary at this time.No walk-up clinics.Appointments can be made through the county’s website.Placer CountyAppointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.Other local providers allow prescheduled appointments, including Remedy RX, a county pharmacy partner.Appointments necessary, at this time.No walk-up clinics.Appointments can be made through the county’s website.Stanislaus CountyAppointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.Appointments recommended.Walk-in at all county sites available, while vaccine supply lasts.Appointments can be made through the state’s scheduling system, MyTurn, or by calling (833) 422-4225.San Joaquin CountyAppointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.Residents can sign up through the state’s scheduling site, MyTurn to sign up for notification when eligible to make an appointment.Appointments necessary at this time.Not currently taking first-dose appointments at county sites.No walk-up clinics.Appointments can be made through MyTurn or through the county’s website.Kaiser PermanenteAppointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.Updates on eligibility and appointments available here.Dignity Health Non-members eligible to make appointments.No walk-up clinics.Appointments can be made through MyTurn.

Millions of Californians will become eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine this week as eligibility will expand to people ages 50 and older.

Leer en español

Those new guidelines will begin this Thursday, and on April 15, any Californian ages 16 and older will become eligible. What remains an issue in the fight against the virus is supply, which continues to be limited across the state.

Some Northern California county officials said the state tells them about a week in advance how many doses will be delivered for the following week, which makes planning clinics and appointments challenging.

KCRA 3 reached out to counties and health care providers to see what options are available for people trying to make vaccination appointments.

Sacramento County

  • Appointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • On April 1, appointments will be opened to those ages 50 and older.
  • Appointments necessary at this time.
  • No walk-up clinics.
  • Appointments can be made through the county’s website.

Yolo County

  • Appointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • It’s possible some appointments may be opened this week for those becoming eligible April 1.
  • Appointments necessary at this time.
  • No walk-up clinics.
  • Appointments can be made through the county’s website.

Placer County

  • Appointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Other local providers allow prescheduled appointments, including Remedy RX, a county pharmacy partner.
  • Appointments necessary, at this time.
  • No walk-up clinics.
  • Appointments can be made through the county’s website.

Stanislaus County

  • Appointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Appointments recommended.
  • Walk-in at all county sites available, while vaccine supply lasts.
  • Appointments can be made through the state’s scheduling system, MyTurn, or by calling (833) 422-4225.

San Joaquin County

  • Appointments at county site cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Residents can sign up through the state’s scheduling site, MyTurn to sign up for notification when eligible to make an appointment.
  • Appointments necessary at this time.
  • Not currently taking first-dose appointments at county sites.
  • No walk-up clinics.
  • Appointments can be made through MyTurn or through the county’s website.

Kaiser Permanente

  • Appointments cannot be prescheduled unless a person is eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Updates on eligibility and appointments available here.

Dignity Health

  • Non-members eligible to make appointments.
  • No walk-up clinics.
  • Appointments can be made through MyTurn.

Read original article here

Health

My BMI qualified me for the Covid-19 vaccine. Why did I hesitate to schedule an appointment?

Leave a comment

I live in New York state, which in February opened up eligibility to people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. When my roommate told me about BMI eligibility, I weighed myself for the first time in years and wasn’t surprised to find I made the cut. I would’ve qualified before the pandemic, but — ironically — my extra Covid-19 pounds put me more solidly in range.

At first, I thought that I would not sign up for a vaccine appointment because there is nothing wrong with me. I didn’t want to take a slot from someone who actually needed it.

But there is clear evidence connecting Covid-19 outcomes and weight. Studies have found that coronavirus death rates are higher in countries with higher rates of obesity. And while having a higher BMI does not increase the chances of contracting Covid-19, it has been linked to a greater risk of becoming seriously ill from the disease.

Within a few weeks of the pandemic spreading in the UK, general practitioner Dr. Natasha Larmie started to see the first published studies linking poor Covid-19 outcomes with obesity.

“All that that showed was that there were more obese people suffering with sort of serious Covid than there were non-obese people,” Larmie, who is working to end weight stigma in medicine, told me.

“I am never going to deny that that is an issue because the facts speak for themselves. The problem is that people then went on to assume that it was the obesity that was causing these poor Covid outcomes.”

There are many factors that contribute to and influence weight, Larmie noted, factors most of the studies so far have left out. They include social determinants like poverty, education, access to health care, and even weight stigma itself.

Studies show that weight stigma can result in delayed or misguided treatment for people with high BMIs and can cause some to avoid the doctor altogether. No complete conclusion can be drawn about obesity without considering these details, and no one’s weight is a complete picture of who they are.

The BMI metric was first used in the 1800s for population studies, and it doesn’t measure excess fat or account for body shape, weight distribution or muscle mass. It was never meant to be used as an individual assessment. But it’s easy to calculate and widely used worldwide, which makes it convenient for vaccine distribution.

Larmie doesn’t think very highly of using BMI as a medical tool. If it were up to her, she said, obesity wouldn’t be considered a medical condition at all.

“If I want to diagnose diabetes, I look at your blood sugar, you’ll be able to see and there’s a cutoff. If I want to diagnose gallstones, I give you an ultrasound scan. If I want to diagnose cancer, we have to do a biopsy and look at it underneath a microscope,” she said. “If I want to diagnose obesity, the only way right now to diagnose it is to use the Body Mass Index.”

As empowering as Larmie’s approach is, I still felt deeply conflicted about signing up for a vaccine appointment. I alternated between shame at qualifying for something because I’m fat, and outrage at how fatness is based on such an outdated, unspecific standard.

The thought of showing up somewhere and publicly “admitting” to being obese was nearly insurmountable. That’s thanks to the weight-based stigma and derision that has come from my closest loved ones, my doctors and society. Was bowing to my BMI tantamount to letting them win?

Aurielle Marie, a cultural strategist who advocates for and consults on body positivity in the United States, helped me sort through this internal conflict.

“I think that I’m able to hold two truths at the same time,” they told me. “And those two truths are I want access to a vaccine that is proven to keep people … safer. And the other truth is that I don’t agree with the system that has told me that my body is a risk, and I don’t prioritize their understanding of fatness over my own, even though their understanding of fatness grants me access to the vaccine.”

Aurielle Marie asked not to include their last name due to online harassment. They have, unfortunately, learned a lot about dealing with the health care system from personal experience, like when a doctor refused to investigate the cause of their pain further until they lost weight, because he said it would be expensive and a waste of his time.

Since then, Aurielle Marie is their own strongest advocate in the doctor’s office. They’ve actually started going into medical appointments by telling the provider they know they’re fat and to please skip the monologue. Aurielle Marie says it both eliminates time spent on a topic they’re not at the doctor to address and helps them gauge how a provider is going to treat them.

Their take on my vaccine anxiety? Go get what you qualify for. “Feel no shame and feel no fear in getting into line for the vaccine because we’re not jumping line or we’re not jumping ahead of someone else, quote unquote, more worthy. We are standing at the spot that someone told us to be in because of our body size,” they said.

Ultimately, I agreed. I got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this month. My next dose is on April 7. I didn’t make the rules that allowed me this measure of security and peace of mind after a devastating pandemic year, and I’m not doing anything wrong by following them.

My body is no less deserving of health and protection than anyone else’s just because of its size. These words are easy to write but believing them is a lifelong struggle I’m not sure I’ll ever win. All I know for sure is that it’s worth it to try.

Read original article here

Health

COVID-19 vaccine in North Carolina information

Leave a comment

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has an online tool to help North Carolinians know when they will be eligible to get their vaccine. The Find My Vaccine Group walks users through a series of questions to determine which vaccine group they are in. People can then sign up to be notified when their group can get vaccinated. The following groups are the order that NCDHHS is recommending counties vaccinate in.The state is currently vaccinating Groups 1 through 4(a). Group 4(b), which includes students living in dorms and other essential workers, will be eligible on March 31. All other adults will be eligible on April 7.Health care workers, long-term care staff, long-term care residentsAdults 65 and olderFrontline essential workers(a) Adults at high risk for exposure and with increased risk for severe illness, (b) all other essential workers and students living in dormsEveryone elseMore information about COVID-19 vaccines and finding a distribution event can be found by clicking here.North Carolina coronavirus vaccine helpline: 1-888-675-4567 North Carolina vaccine information for college students:Here is information on how to get a vaccine in the Piedmont Triad: Alamance County: Alamance County’s Health department vaccinations are by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 336-290-0650.———————-Cone Health is encouraging Hispanic people to get the coronavirus vaccination by adding hours and Spanish-speaking staff to its current Burlington clinics and creating a support clinic to the Greensboro FEMA site.Cone Health, FEMA and NCDHHS will help at the clinic at the CityGate Dream Center, located at 1423 N. Church St., starting on Friday, March 19. This site will be a support clinic for the Greensboro FEMA COVID-19 Vaccination Center. This CityGate clinic will receive about 1,200 doses each week for the next seven weeks.The clinic hours will be:Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.Spanish-speaking staff will schedule appointments through the Hispanic Federation. The phone number for Spanish speakers to register for an appointment is 336-890-3792. ———————–Beginning Monday, March 1, Link Transit will begin operating the Vaccinate Alamance Shuttle from the Worth Street Transfer Hub to the new Vaccinate Alamance Clinic at 2401 Eric Lane, Unit 100 in Burlington.The shuttle and any Link Transit rides to connect to the shuttle will be free of charge. Click here for more information.Alleghany County: AppHealthCare asks anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of which priority group they’re in, to fill out their Vaccine Interest Form or call 828-795-1970. When eligible, county health officials will make contact to schedule an appointment.Caswell County: The Caswell County Health Department is following the NCDHHS guidelines of starting vaccinations for people 65 years and older.Interested individuals may call the health department at 336-694-4129, choose option 5, to add your name to the list for an appointment.Davidson County: The Davidson County Health Department has appointments available March 29, March 30 and April 5 at the Davidson County Health Department and April 1 at the Davidson County West Campus. Anyone who wants a vaccine and meets the age requirements can make an appointment by calling 336-236-3096 starting March 29 at 10 a.m.————-Davidson County Department of Senior Services is offering free transportation to COVID Vaccination appointments in the county.To be eligible for transportation, individuals must be a Davidson County resident, age 65 and older, and have an appointment for a vaccination scheduled. To schedule transportation, call at the scheduling line, at least 48 hours prior to appointment at (336)242.2947.This number is for transportation to appointments only, not to schedule a vaccination.Individuals that need to schedule a vaccination should call the Davidson County Health Department COVID-19 Appointment line at (336) 236-3096.Davie County: Davie County Health and Human Services vaccine eligibility is for people 65 and older or frontline healthcare workers. Forsyth County: The Forsyth County Public Health Department is opening another set of vaccination appointments for the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. Sunday.Appointments can be made online here or by calling 336-360-5260. To avoid long hold times from the high volume of calls that are expected, callers will hear a prerecorded message and their number will be put in an automatic queue, and they will receive a call back from Public health staff.All vaccination appointments with Forsyth Public Health will take place at the Fairgrounds’ Education Building located at 414 Deacon Boulevard, and attendees should enter off Deacon Boulevard. Vaccination is by appointment only. ——————— Wake Forest Baptist patients may call 336-702-6843 to schedule vaccination appointments. No walk-ins are accepted.Updated information is also available through patients’ “myWakeHealth” accounts and click here. The hospital plans to add online scheduling capabilities in the near future.If appointments are full, the hospital will continue to add appointments and locations depending on the amount of vaccine allotted to them by the state. The hospital is only scheduling appointments that they can accommodate based on their vaccine supply.——————–Novant Health and Winston-Salem State University are a “spoke partner” of the Greensboro FEMA COVID-19 Vaccination Site for the next eight weeks.WSSU will receive 1,200 doses each week to ensure doses to marginalized communities.Every Saturday for the next eight weeks, Novant Health will host a clinic for about 600 doses. The other doses will be used at community events and the Hanes Mall site.———————-Novant Health added appointments for Saturday, March 27, at the Hanes Mall location in Winston-Salem for anyone in Groups 1 through 4. To schedule an appointment, click here.Guilford County: Guilford County is scheduling vaccine appointments for those eligible in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. To schedule an appointment, click here or call 336-641-7944 (Option 2) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Vaccine clinics are being held at:Mount Zion Baptist Church – 1301 Alamance Church Rd., GreensboroHigh Point University Community Center at Oak Hollow Mall – 921 Eastchester Dr., Suite 1230, High PointGreensboro Coliseum – 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro Walk-ins are not allowed. ———————– To schedule vaccination appointments through Cone Health, click here.Cone Health is scheduling people in Group 4 starting Thursday, March 18.People without internet access or email accounts can call 336-890-1188 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for assistance.———————Appointments are available for individuals in Groups 1, 2 and 3 at the federally-supported vaccination center at the Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro. Appointments can be made online at GSOmassvax.org or by calling 1-888-675-4567.The site, Community Vaccination Center, which plans to operate seven days a week for eight weeks, would be capable of administering about 3,000 shots a day, and up to 21,000 doses a week.The Community Vaccination Center will also feature options for drive-thru service in the parking lot and walk-in service in the space formerly occupied by Dillard’s department store.To reach more marginalized and underserved communities, the main vaccination center at Four Seasons Town Centre will support additional sites and mobile vaccination clinics in communities of need across the Piedmont Triad.People who are eligible for coronavirus vaccines can now make an appointment at the Greensboro FEMA Community COVID-19 Vaccination Center.Click the link below to schedule your appointment. The center said more appointments will open regularly, so if appointments are filled, check back again soon.Montgomery County: Montgomery County is following the NCDHHS guidelines in giving vaccinations for people 65 years and older.Registration is open for vaccinations at the Health Department (102 East Spring St., Troy). Click here to visit the Montgomery County Health Department website or call 910-572-1393 to make an appointment. Randolph County: The Randolph County Health Department is allowing vaccine appointments for everyone in Groups 1 through 5. To make an appointment, call 336-365-6110.For up-to-date information regarding the status of the county’s vaccine supply, please visit the health department’s Facebook page or website.Rockingham County: The Rockingham County Health Department is giving vaccinations to anyone in Group 5.To make an appointment, call the COVID-19 Hotline at 336-394-0064 or click here. Stokes County: Stokes County is offering vaccination appointments to adults that are 65 years and older. Individuals interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination are asked to call 336-593-2400, then choose option 7. Callers will be asked to leave your name, phone number and date of birth. You can also submit your contact information and birthday in an email to covid19@co.stokes.nc.usHealth officials said they will call back to schedule an appointment. Surry County: Surry County Health and Nutrition Center is asking for people who are interested in receiving the vaccine to register online. Click here to register. The county will contact you to schedule an appointment when the time arrives for you to receive your vaccine. Wilkes County: Click here to visit Wilkes Health’s website for information about future events.Yadkin County: Anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Yadkin County is encouraged to click here to fill out an information form.Health department officials said the order in which people will be contacted to get the vaccine will be based on their risk level, available supply and which group the state is currently working under within the prioritization framework. Anyone needing assistance filling out the form is asked to call 336-849-7910 and ask for the “Medical Clinic.” Want to help distribute vaccines?North Carolina is looking for medical volunteers to help at COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state. Click here for more information.NC COVID-19 vaccine numbersUS COVID-19 vaccine numbersResources:

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has an online tool to help North Carolinians know when they will be eligible to get their vaccine.

The Find My Vaccine Group walks users through a series of questions to determine which vaccine group they are in. People can then sign up to be notified when their group can get vaccinated.

The following groups are the order that NCDHHS is recommending counties vaccinate in.

The state is currently vaccinating Groups 1 through 4(a). Group 4(b), which includes students living in dorms and other essential workers, will be eligible on March 31. All other adults will be eligible on April 7.

  1. Health care workers, long-term care staff, long-term care residents
  2. Adults 65 and older
  3. Frontline essential workers
  4. (a) Adults at high risk for exposure and with increased risk for severe illness, (b) all other essential workers and students living in dorms
  5. Everyone else

More information about COVID-19 vaccines and finding a distribution event can be found by clicking here.

North Carolina coronavirus vaccine helpline:

1-888-675-4567

North Carolina vaccine information for college students:

Here is information on how to get a vaccine in the Piedmont Triad:

Alamance County: Alamance County’s Health department vaccinations are by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 336-290-0650.

———————-

Cone Health is encouraging Hispanic people to get the coronavirus vaccination by adding hours and Spanish-speaking staff to its current Burlington clinics and creating a support clinic to the Greensboro FEMA site.

Cone Health, FEMA and NCDHHS will help at the clinic at the CityGate Dream Center, located at 1423 N. Church St., starting on Friday, March 19.

This site will be a support clinic for the Greensboro FEMA COVID-19 Vaccination Center. This CityGate clinic will receive about 1,200 doses each week for the next seven weeks.

The clinic hours will be:

  • Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Spanish-speaking staff will schedule appointments through the Hispanic Federation. The phone number for Spanish speakers to register for an appointment is 336-890-3792.

———————–

Beginning Monday, March 1, Link Transit will begin operating the Vaccinate Alamance Shuttle from the Worth Street Transfer Hub to the new Vaccinate Alamance Clinic at 2401 Eric Lane, Unit 100 in Burlington.

The shuttle and any Link Transit rides to connect to the shuttle will be free of charge. Click here for more information.

Alleghany County: AppHealthCare asks anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of which priority group they’re in, to fill out their Vaccine Interest Form or call 828-795-1970. When eligible, county health officials will make contact to schedule an appointment.

Caswell County: The Caswell County Health Department is following the NCDHHS guidelines of starting vaccinations for people 65 years and older.

Interested individuals may call the health department at 336-694-4129, choose option 5, to add your name to the list for an appointment.

Davidson County: The Davidson County Health Department has appointments available March 29, March 30 and April 5 at the Davidson County Health Department and April 1 at the Davidson County West Campus. Anyone who wants a vaccine and meets the age requirements can make an appointment by calling 336-236-3096 starting March 29 at 10 a.m.

————-

Davidson County Department of Senior Services is offering free transportation to COVID Vaccination appointments in the county.

To be eligible for transportation, individuals must be a Davidson County resident, age 65 and older, and have an appointment for a vaccination scheduled. To schedule transportation, call at the scheduling line, at least 48 hours prior to appointment at (336)242.2947.

This number is for transportation to appointments only, not to schedule a vaccination.

Individuals that need to schedule a vaccination should call the Davidson County Health Department COVID-19 Appointment line at (336) 236-3096.

Davie County: Davie County Health and Human Services vaccine eligibility is for people 65 and older or frontline healthcare workers.

Forsyth County: The Forsyth County Public Health Department is opening another set of vaccination appointments for the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Appointments can be made online here or by calling 336-360-5260. To avoid long hold times from the high volume of calls that are expected, callers will hear a prerecorded message and their number will be put in an automatic queue, and they will receive a call back from Public health staff.

All vaccination appointments with Forsyth Public Health will take place at the Fairgrounds’ Education Building located at 414 Deacon Boulevard, and attendees should enter off Deacon Boulevard. Vaccination is by appointment only.

———————

Wake Forest Baptist patients may call 336-702-6843 to schedule vaccination appointments. No walk-ins are accepted.

Updated information is also available through patients’ “myWakeHealth” accounts and click here. The hospital plans to add online scheduling capabilities in the near future.

If appointments are full, the hospital will continue to add appointments and locations depending on the amount of vaccine allotted to them by the state. The hospital is only scheduling appointments that they can accommodate based on their vaccine supply.

——————–

Novant Health and Winston-Salem State University are a “spoke partner” of the Greensboro FEMA COVID-19 Vaccination Site for the next eight weeks.

WSSU will receive 1,200 doses each week to ensure doses to marginalized communities.

Every Saturday for the next eight weeks, Novant Health will host a clinic for about 600 doses. The other doses will be used at community events and the Hanes Mall site.

———————-

Novant Health added appointments for Saturday, March 27, at the Hanes Mall location in Winston-Salem for anyone in Groups 1 through 4. To schedule an appointment, click here.

Guilford County: Guilford County is scheduling vaccine appointments for those eligible in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4.

To schedule an appointment, click here or call 336-641-7944 (Option 2) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccine clinics are being held at:

  • Mount Zion Baptist Church – 1301 Alamance Church Rd., Greensboro
  • High Point University Community Center at Oak Hollow Mall – 921 Eastchester Dr., Suite 1230, High Point
  • Greensboro Coliseum – 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro

Walk-ins are not allowed.

———————–

To schedule vaccination appointments through Cone Health, click here.

Cone Health is scheduling people in Group 4 starting Thursday, March 18.

People without internet access or email accounts can call 336-890-1188 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for assistance.

———————

Appointments are available for individuals in Groups 1, 2 and 3 at the federally-supported vaccination center at the Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro. Appointments can be made online at GSOmassvax.org or by calling 1-888-675-4567.

The site, Community Vaccination Center, which plans to operate seven days a week for eight weeks, would be capable of administering about 3,000 shots a day, and up to 21,000 doses a week.

The Community Vaccination Center will also feature options for drive-thru service in the parking lot and walk-in service in the space formerly occupied by Dillard’s department store.

To reach more marginalized and underserved communities, the main vaccination center at Four Seasons Town Centre will support additional sites and mobile vaccination clinics in communities of need across the Piedmont Triad.

People who are eligible for coronavirus vaccines can now make an appointment at the Greensboro FEMA Community COVID-19 Vaccination Center.

Click the link below to schedule your appointment. The center said more appointments will open regularly, so if appointments are filled, check back again soon.

Montgomery County: Montgomery County is following the NCDHHS guidelines in giving vaccinations for people 65 years and older.

Registration is open for vaccinations at the Health Department (102 East Spring St., Troy). Click here to visit the Montgomery County Health Department website or call 910-572-1393 to make an appointment.

Randolph County: The Randolph County Health Department is allowing vaccine appointments for everyone in Groups 1 through 5. To make an appointment, call 336-365-6110.

For up-to-date information regarding the status of the county’s vaccine supply, please visit the health department’s Facebook page or website.

Rockingham County: The Rockingham County Health Department is giving vaccinations to anyone in Group 5.

To make an appointment, call the COVID-19 Hotline at 336-394-0064 or click here.

Stokes County: Stokes County is offering vaccination appointments to adults that are 65 years and older.

Individuals interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination are asked to call 336-593-2400, then choose option 7. Callers will be asked to leave your name, phone number and date of birth. You can also submit your contact information and birthday in an email to covid19@co.stokes.nc.us

Health officials said they will call back to schedule an appointment.

Surry County: Surry County Health and Nutrition Center is asking for people who are interested in receiving the vaccine to register online. Click here to register.

The county will contact you to schedule an appointment when the time arrives for you to receive your vaccine.

Wilkes County: Click here to visit Wilkes Health’s website for information about future events.

Yadkin County: Anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Yadkin County is encouraged to click here to fill out an information form.

Health department officials said the order in which people will be contacted to get the vaccine will be based on their risk level, available supply and which group the state is currently working under within the prioritization framework.

Anyone needing assistance filling out the form is asked to call 336-849-7910 and ask for the “Medical Clinic.”

Want to help distribute vaccines?

North Carolina is looking for medical volunteers to help at COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state.

Click here for more information.

NC COVID-19 vaccine numbers

US COVID-19 vaccine numbers

Resources:

Read original article here

Health

Iowans can get instant vaccine appointment alerts by following this page

Leave a comment

Iowans having a hard time getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment now have an option to get instant alerts when one becomes available.Iowa City web developer Brian Finley launched the automated @IAVaccineAlerts Twitter page Wednesday.It lists new appointments at Iowa Hy-Vee, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.Finley said the idea came to him as he and other Iowans with pre-existing conditions became eligible for the vaccine Monday.”I was trying to find vaccines for myself and a couple other of my close family, my mom, my mother in law, that kind of thing and was getting a little frustrated with how difficult it could be,” Finley said.Finley says he saw people across the country using tools to aggregate appointment data and he put them to work for Iowa. He says the page comes in handy for those willing to drive a bit to get a shot and anybody with a busy schedule.”If somebody’s at work, they can’t afford to sit and sit at a computer all day and do this kind of stuff,” Finley said. “You know, for those people that are out there actively searching, they should have an easier way to get at it. So I tried to help.”There’s no guarantee that a listed appointment will be available when you see it, so Finley suggests setting up alerts so you can be instantly notified when a new appointment becomes available. Finley is also helping out our neighbors, setting up a Minnesota Vaccine Alerts Twitter page. He said he is considering launching Illinois and Wisconsin versions as well.Finley said he isn’t seeking any donations for the project; he suggests donating to these charities instead.For more information about vaccines in Iowa, click here.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowans having a hard time getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment now have an option to get instant alerts when one becomes available.

Iowa City web developer Brian Finley launched the automated @IAVaccineAlerts Twitter page Wednesday.

It lists new appointments at Iowa Hy-Vee, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.

Finley said the idea came to him as he and other Iowans with pre-existing conditions became eligible for the vaccine Monday.

“I was trying to find vaccines for myself and a couple other of my close family, my mom, my mother in law, that kind of thing and was getting a little frustrated with how difficult it could be,” Finley said.

Finley says he saw people across the country using tools to aggregate appointment data and he put them to work for Iowa. He says the page comes in handy for those willing to drive a bit to get a shot and anybody with a busy schedule.

“If somebody’s at work, they can’t afford to sit and sit at a computer all day and do this kind of stuff,” Finley said. “You know, for those people that are out there actively searching, they should have an easier way to get at it. So I tried to help.”

There’s no guarantee that a listed appointment will be available when you see it, so Finley suggests setting up alerts so you can be instantly notified when a new appointment becomes available.

Finley is also helping out our neighbors, setting up a Minnesota Vaccine Alerts Twitter page. He said he is considering launching Illinois and Wisconsin versions as well.

Finley said he isn’t seeking any donations for the project; he suggests donating to these charities instead.

For more information about vaccines in Iowa, click here.



Read original article here