Reproductive Health Needs Our Voices
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Happy Monday Advocates
I would like to encourage comments and suggestions from you if you have time. If there is a special topic you’d like to see please let me know. Please use the comment button below. By the way lots of deep breaths help. So do cute pictures.
Women and Healthcare
Pink Tax for Healthcare: An analysis from Deloitte found that women on average pay more for healthcare than men despite having the same insurance. Even after removing maternity costs, women with employer-sponsored health plans paid $15.4 billion more out of pocket for health care than men. Excuses include gynecological exams and breast cancer screening. I guess prostate screenings and larger heart disease issues found in men don’t count. When insurance stands between you and the doctor, they win - not you.
Reproductive Health - Republican Taliban in Congress
Remember the Supreme Court Dobbs - walk-back ruling to 1950? Leave it to the States? Republicans submit bill in congress to make Mifepristone illegal (link).
If your goal is to make women 2nd class citizens, incapable of making their own life decisions, you are no better than the Taliban.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), flanked by leaders of anti-abortion groups, introduced a bill, HR 5806 that would ban abortion pills nationwide. “Banning these dangerous drugs for the purpose of chemical abortion is an important step in protecting life,” he told reporters. “We have a duty to uphold the sanctity of life.” The new bill, which has 13 Republican co-sponsors as of last Thursday, comes on the 23rd anniversary of the FDA approving the abortion drug mifepristone for terminating a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks. In recent years, the pills have become the most common method of abortion nationwide.
ACTION
Let’s let our representatives in Congress know that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. You can call them at (202) 224-3121 or email: democracy.io or use RESISTBOT on your phone to send the text below by texting to 50409 SIGN PSPXKM.
“I am your constituent and I see that there is a bill in Congress submitted by Andy Ogles would make Mifepristone illegal. It is HR 5806, a bill to make chemical abortions illegal in the US. I do not want to hear that you have voted for this in committee or to enact it. If you vote for this, you and me are quits. Not one penny from me, no support and certainly not my vote.”
GOOD NEWS
Antibiotic Shows Efficacy Against Complicated Staph Bactereia
The results of a phase 3 clinical trial show an antibiotic used for treating pneumonia could be an option for treating bloodstream infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, researchers reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial, which was led by investigators from Duke University and received funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that the cephalosporin antibiotic ceftobiprole was good for the treatment of patients with complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, including methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA).
The investigators say ceftobiprole could be an important new option for an infection that is common and frequently lethal. An estimated 120,000 S aureus bacteremia cases occur in the United States each year, with a mortality rate of 25% at 3 months.
More Good News - RSV
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common virus that just causes cold symptoms for many people. But for very young babies and older people it can be life threatening. This year there is now protection. Here is the CDC guidance.
Adults 60 years old and over
Adults 60 years of age and older may receive a single dose of RSV vaccine using shared clinical decision-making.
Infants and young children
1 dose of nirsevimab for all infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season. Not a vaccine but a protective antibody treatment since the very young have a very limited immune system. Here is a Harvard report on it.
1 dose of nirsevimab for infants and children 8–19 months old who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season
Note: A different monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, is limited to children under 24 months of age with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV disease. It must be given once a month during RSV season. Please see AAP guidelines for palivizumab.
Pregnant people
1 dose of maternal RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, administered immediately before or during RSV season.
Summary
Influenza vaccine, RSV, COVID-19 shot. I’m going to get them (just not all the same day). It’s like the last thing the referee says before the boxing match starts “PROTECT YOUR SELF AT ALL TIMES”.
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 Plan
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. NARAL’s abortion resource
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