How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
California State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Sunday that there had been “a higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions” reported with Moderna Lot 041L20A, which was administered at one community vaccination clinic.
Pan said fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours.
“Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the CDC, FDA, Moderna and the state is complete,” Pan said.
Those impacted had appeared to be experiencing a possible severe allergic reaction during the standard observation period, Pan said.
Pan’s office said that while no vaccine or medical procedure is without risk, the risk of a serious adverse reaction is very small.
While less data exists on adverse reactions related to the Moderna vaccine, officials said a similar vaccine shows that the expected rate of anaphylaxis is approximately 1 in 100,000.
On Tuesday, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told the Board of Supervisors that the county had received a shipment of 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but that before they could open it to administer it, the state notified them not to use the doses due to the concerns about allergic reactions.
On Wednesday night, Pan followed up with a statement that cleared the immediate use of the Moderna Lot 041L20A vaccination doses.
Pand said that on Tuesday the state convened the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and additional allergy and immunology specialists to examine the evidence collected, and had further discussions with the County of San Diego Department of Public Health, the Federal Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Moderna.
She said they found no scientific basis to continue the pause on administering the doses.
“These findings should continue to give Californians confidence that vaccines are safe and effective, and that the systems put in place to ensure vaccine safety are rigorous and science-based,” Pan said. “Members of my family who have qualified to receive the vaccine as health care workers or because of their age have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, and I encourage every Californian to get the vaccine when it’s their turn.”
Pace did not respond to a request from Lake County News about the update from the state or the locally held Moderna doses.
The California Department of Public Health said that more than 330,000 doses from this lot were distributed to 287 providers across the state between Jan. 5 and 12. The state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this lot.
The agency could not confirm to Lake County News the number of doses received locally that were in Moderna Lot 041L20.
However, on Thursday night, during the Clearlake City Council meeting, City Manager Alan Flora reported to the council that locally held doses of Moderna Lot 041L20A were cleared for release.
Lake County Public Health is now rolling out stand up vaccination clinics in Clearlake and Lakeport for seniors and teachers. However, members of the public can’t simply show up to be vaccinated as appointments are required for the limited number of doses the county has available.
In the case of seniors, they must make appointments either through their local senior center or medical provider. Vaccinations for teachers are being arranged through their respective school districts.
Flora told the council that a larger shipment of vaccine doses – as many as 800 – is expected to arrive in Lake County next week.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.
‘Ben’
“Ben” is a male American Pit Bull terrier mix.
He has a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4454.
‘Breeze’
“Breeze” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 4445.
‘Bruce’
“Bruce” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short yellow coat.
He is dog No. 4383.
‘Bumble’
“Bumble” is a male Siberian Husky with a gray and black coat.
He is dog No. 4452.
‘Cappie’
“Cappie” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length black and tan coat.
He is dog No. 4575.
‘Inky’
“Inky” is a male German Shepherd mix with a long black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 4324.
‘Jerry’
“Jerry” is a male American Pit Bull terrier with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4455.
‘Rudolph’
“Rudolph” is a male shepherd mix.
He has a short tan and black coat.
He is dog No. 4436.
‘Rudy’
“Rudy” is a senior male American pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short black coat.
He is dog No. 4504.
‘Toby’
“Toby” is a male boxer mix.
He has a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 4389.
‘Yule’
“Yule” is a male husky with a black and white coat.
Yule is dog No. 4432.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County school employees began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations this week.
“I wish to thank Public Health staff for their engagement and leadership. Based on our current planning we expect to have all interested Lake County school staff vaccinated by mid-February,” said Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
Phase 1b in Lake County includes people 65 and older and workers in education. Teachers and school staff who have contact with students will be prioritized.
Over the last three weeks, the Office of Education has coordinated with the school districts to focus on vaccination planning.
Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Becky Salato said for her staff that have chosen to receive the vaccine there is an additional sense of security and safety as they work towards balancing what they want to do, and what they can do safely.
“As superintendent, I am very hopeful that the vaccines will help us get our students back in school safely and soon. I think for all of us, the vaccine brings hope that we are closer to returning to some new form of normal,” Salato said.
Reggie Gee, a special education teacher from Upper Lake Unified School District, said he does not normally get sick or get the flu vaccination, but receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was important to him.
“I think it is important for two reasons. One is to set an example for the staff and the students I work with. The other is for safety,” Gee said.
A paraeducator from Lakeport Unified School District, Angeles Espinoza, said getting the vaccine did not hurt at all and was an easy process to go through.
“Getting the vaccine and creating a herd of immunity is important to stopping the spread of COVID,” Espinoza said. “It is also important to spread awareness about the vaccine and create trust in the community about getting vaccinated.”
According to Lake County Public Health, COVID-19 activity is more widespread than it has ever been in Lake County and they ask to please take extra precautions.
This includes the Three Ws:
· Wear a mask.
· Wash your hands.
· Watch your distance.
These are all important strategies to protect against community spread.
“Getting our students safely back into schools is one of our top priorities,” Falkenberg said.
To learn more about the Lake County Office of Education, visit www.lakecoe.org.
- Details
- Written by: Kara Roberts
In 2007, the United States Senate ratified the resolution establishing Jan. 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
President Barack Obama first declared January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in 2010.
Since then, January has been a time to acknowledge those experiencing enslavement and those who have escaped.
During the month of January, Lake Family Resource Center will be sharing educational social media posts. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
The best action you can take to help expand awareness in our community is to learn what human trafficking is and how to spot the signs of trafficking.
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing illegal industries in the world. It involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.
Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States.
It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender or nationality.
Traffickers use violence, manipulation or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.
Globally, human trafficking produces roughly $150 billion a year in profits for traffickers, $99 billion of which comes from commercial sexual exploitation.
An estimated 71 percent of enslaved people are women and girls, while men and boys account for 29 percent. The average age of recruitment into the sex trade, is 12 to 14 years old.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children, or CSEC, is a commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a child, such as the sale of children for sex acts, pornography, including live streaming sexual abuse.
Additionally, CSEC involves coercion and violence against children, economic exploitation, forced labor, and contemporary slavery.
Due to unstable living environments, foster youth and runaways are one of the most vulnerable populations for recruitment.
Human trafficking is often a crime that is hidden in plain sight. It is important to be aware of warning signs.
Some indications that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include appearing malnourished, tattoos/ branding on the neck and/or chest, avoiding eye contact and interaction with authority figures/law enforcement, possessing large sums of cash, hotel keys or are often unaware of their location.
Commonly, victims will show signs of physical injuries and abuse, as well as having long term untreated sexually transmitted diseases.
When interacting with victims, their responses will seem scripted or rehearsed. Often, victims are not allowed to speak for themselves and have been stripped of identification documents.
Accepting this terrible crime exists, understanding what human trafficking is, knowing how to recognize the signs, and knowing who to call for assistance, is crucial in reducing the number of victims.
Lake Family Resource Center’s Human Trafficking Program offers free and confidential services including a 24/7 Community Crisis Line (1-888-485-7733) answered by trained advocates.
The Human Trafficking Program also provides individual counseling, support, safety plans, education, hospital accompaniment, law enforcement advocacy and court advocacy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our crisis line is a vitally important way for survivors and others impacted by violence to access support and safety when it is not possible to meet face-to-face.,
Lake Family Resource Center works closely with our community partners such as law enforcement and hospitals to provide the best services available.
Lake Family Resource Center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength.
The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient and healthy families and communities.
Call 707-279-0563 today to find out more about what we offer and how you can help.
Kara Roberts is Lake Family Resource Center’s Human Trafficking Program coordinator.