Press Releases

Vaccine Work Group Lauds Public Health Investments in State Budget

Historic Funding for Public Health, Resources for Testing, Vaccine Access and Public Education

June 29, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Members of the legislative Vaccine Work Group have been advocating for cohesive and comprehensive, evidenced-based policies in the 2022-23 Budget to strengthen the state’s ability to respond to public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The inclusion of a historic $375 million investment in California’s public health infrastructure and over $2 billion to fight COVID and ensure equitable access to testing and vaccines positions California to continue moving forward to protect Californians.

Dr. Richard Pan, state senator and pediatrician said, “COVID-19 proved public health saves lives, and I am proud to have advocated for this year’s historic state funding for public health. California’s state budget will include $375 million to strengthen the public health workforce and infrastructure for both state and local public health, with an ongoing $300 million annually for public health. These investments will keep California healthier and safer from COVID, future pandemics and other health threats. I am grateful to Senate President pro Tem Atkins, Assembly Speaker Rendon, Governor Newsom and my colleagues who crafted this budget.”

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Dr. Pan Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Limit Abortion Care in United States

June 24, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region and Chair of the Senate Health Committee made the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organizations overruling 50-years of legal precedence and federal constitutional protections to abortion health care:

“This backward decision by the Supreme Court will endanger the health and even lives of millions of American women founded on willful ignorance of the history, legal precedence and medical science of abortion care.  I am deeply concerned we have begun a new and unjust era in the United States which robs pregnant people of their dignity, control over their own bodies and the right to access abortion health care. Additionally, reactionary justices have signaled a desire to further overturn other legal precedence to remove additional rights from Americans to advance their political ideologies over our freedom and well-being.

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Dr. Pan Statement on Authorization and Recommendation of COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids

June 18, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region and Chair of the Senate Health Committee made the following statement regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency authorization of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for kids 6 months of age or older and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that kids 6 months of age or older get vaccinated against COVID-19:

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Statement on Suspected Monkeypox Case in Sacramento County

May 24, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region and Chair of the Senate Health Committee made the following statement regarding a suspected case of monkeypox in Sacramento County:

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Bills on School Testing and Updating the Immunization Registry Advance

SB 1479 (Pan) passed Sen. Education, AB 1797 (Weber) out of Asm. Health & Education Committees

April 27, 2022

SACRAMENTO – State Senator Dr. Richard Pan’s SB 1479 to require schools to develop COVID-19 testing plans, and Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber’s AB 1797 to update California’s immunization registry, passed out of Legislative Committees and both advance to their respective house of origin Appropriations Committee.

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Senator Dr. Richard Pan’s Measure to Create Viral Surveillance Program Unanimously Passes Senate Health Committee

Bill would improve viral surveillance across California, establish hub to analyze potential threats

April 20, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1296 authored by State Senator Dr. Richard Pan to improve California’s viral surveillance passed the Senate Health Committee on a unanimous vote and it will now head to the Senate’s Appropriations Committee.

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State Senator Dr. Richard Pan Statement on Holding School Vaccination Requirement Legislation

April 14, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region and Chair of the Senate Health Committee made the following statement regarding his decision to hold Senate Bill 871, the Keep Schools Open and Safe Act:

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Dr. Richard Pan Statement on Mass Shooting in Sacramento

April 3, 2022

SACRAMENTO, CA — Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region made the following statement regarding the mass shooting early this morning in downtown Sacramento:

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Senate Joint Informational Hearing Highlights Long-Term Costs and Consequences of COVID-19 on Californians

Research and prevention with equity lens critical to preparing and mitigating Long COVID impacts

March 9, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), Chair of the Senate’s Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response, and Senator Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), Chair of the Senate’s Health Committee, held a joint-informational hearing with experts and the public on the devastating reach and impact of “Post COVID Syndrome”, also known as Long COVID, the disproportionate impact it has had on California’s diverse communities, and the ongoing research and availability of resources to serve Californians impacted.

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Dr. Richard Pan Statement on Changes to Public Masking Guidelines

February 28, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, state senator representing the Sacramento region and Chair of the Senate Health Committee made the following statement regarding CalHHS Secretary Ghaly’s announcement that California will implement changes in public masking guidelines:

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