Medical Preparedness
A free public service for a better community
Why Are We Advocates?
Because we all deserve to live in a country where we can make the country, and healthcare work for all of us.
Comments, suggestions, and research topics are greatly appreciated via comment button.
Kittens are calming.
Stop Funding Research?
House lawmakers late Tuesday voted to attach a U.S. ban on infectious disease research to legislation that could ultimately fund federal health agencies like the National Institutes of Health. The bill would bar any federal agencies from funding gain-of-function research, which involves altering a pathogen to study its spread, potentially making it more transmissible or severe in the process. This is how we learn.
Gain of function is a broad term that can encompass almost any type of research aimed at understanding mechanisms and processes. Gain of function techniques are used in research to alter the function of an organism in such a way that it is able to do more than it used to do. (The inverse process in research is referred to as “loss of function.”) This may be accomplished in the lab by adding to or changing the organism’s genetic sequence, and this type of research has had a positive impact on basic and applied life science research.
The amendment is here. It is H.Amdt.799 to H.R.5894 and was submitted by Rep. Matthew Rosendale Sr.
Pandemic Preparedness at Risk
This morning Axios reported that Congress appears destined to end the year without renewing expired federal pandemic preparedness programs after questions about emergency stockpiles, drug shortages and cracks in the nation's health security system got subsumed in COVID-19 politics.
Reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was billed as a must-do early this year, after the pandemic exposed gaps in countermeasures and disease surveillance.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a Freedom Caucus member, expressed concerns on Tuesday about how a catchall funding bill could further the "empowerment of the federal government in engagement and push of vaccines."
More than 100 organizations, led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security sent a letter to congressional leadership on Tuesday urging them to reauthorize PAHPA for five years before the end of this year. When you stop a program without reauthorization the startup cost from a dead stop is usually way more expensive than continuing.
It needs to be reauthorized because lives will be at stake.
ACTION
Let’s let our Members of Congress know that we want to be prepared for the next pandemic - we can’t afford to be caught off guard. That means passing the Pandemic Preparedness Act now and studying how diseases become more deadly and virulent.
We need our members of Congress to know we want them to support and vote for Reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and Vote NO on H.Amdt.799 to H.R.5894.
Their email/phone number is in the Resources section below.
Or use RESISTBOT by texting to 50409 SIGN PSEVWP on your cell phone to send the message below.
I am your constituent and I am shocked we have not yest passed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. We need to be prepared for the next pandemic, not sit idly by and let it overtake us. I am also shocked that that Rep. Matthew Rosendale Sr. has submitted H.Amdt.799 to H.R.5894 which would bar any federal agencies from funding gain-of-function research, which involves altering a pathogen to study its spread. This kind of research is necessary from a public health point of view to understand how diseases become more transmissible and more dangerous to the population. I want you to stand up and protect the US population, not turn your back on knowledge at the cost of human lives.
Summary - I strongly urge the you to act in the interest of your constituents and protect them by supporting reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and voting NO on H.Amdt.799 to H.R.5894. Thank you.
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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So, the cons who sell conspiracy theories will now block medical research and pandemic preparedness. Peachy.