 Sometimes it’s easy to be skeptical about government, but I have to say California has worked with unusual foresight to secure its health-care system against political shifts in Washington. By expanding Medi-Cal to include all low-income residents, sustaining long-term funding through the managed care organization tax, and writing into state law protections for preventive services, reproductive care, and gender-affirming treatment, it has placed access to health care on firmer ground than most other states in the union. The state has also partnered with its West Coast neighbors to provide independent, science-based vaccine guidance, ensuring consistency and trust in public health. At the same time, California’s legal leadership has defended Medicaid, Affordable Care Act protections, and patient privacy, often through multi-state coalitions. All in a bid to somewhat shield us from some of the unbelievably shortsighted federal actions being taken and proposed. The result is a model of resilience: Californians can look to a health system designed not only to withstand political volatility but to embody a commitment to equity, access, and innovation. California demonstrates that with planning and resolve, health care can be somewhat protected as a right and a public good. www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #rights #ladydocfolsom #obgyn #ruthhaskinsmd
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 Today is International Day of Democracy, a good moment to look back at how the right to vote has expanded in the United States over time. It wasn’t granted all at once, hard fought, our democracy has grown slowly, slowly, step by step.
www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #democracy #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  I’m sorry, I’m going to sound a little like a broken record… but this has to be said and repeated. Vaccines save lives. That’s not opinion, it’s fact. Despite RFK Jr.’s remarks leading us to believe otherwise, the data is overwhelming: • Globally, vaccines have prevented 154 million deaths over the past 50 years — the equivalent of six lives saved every single minute (World Health Organization, 2024). • In the United States, routine childhood vaccines since 1994 have prevented 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths: saving the country $2.7 trillion in societal costs (CDC, 2024). • COVID-19 vaccines alone saved nearly 20 million lives in the first year of rollout (Lancet, 2022). In Europe, they reduced deaths by at least 57%, sparing 1.4 million lives (European CDC, 2023). In Latin America, they prevented up to 2.6 million deaths in 17 countries (PAHO, 2023). So when Kennedy Jr. claims “nobody knows how many lives were saved” — and cuts $500 million from mRNA vaccine research, it’s simply untrue, reckless political spin. It undermines and weakens trust, leaving millions vulnerable. Honestly, I’m frustrated. In this day and age, it is incomprehensible that in the United States we are still forced to argue for vaccines. This conversation doesn’t play out in other Western democracies at a governmental level. They debate many things, but not whether life-saving vaccines work. The truth is simple: vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest life-saving tools. Ignoring that doesn’t make it less true! www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #vaccinate #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  Hello, September! As the pace picks up with back-to-school, changing routines, and the shift into fall, it’s easy to put your own health on hold. But this season is a great reminder to pause, reset, and prioritize you. Whether it’s time for your annual exam, a check-in on your reproductive wellness, or simply staying ahead of your health before the holidays, our team is here to support you with expert, compassionate care. We’re proud to be your trusted partners in Obstetrical and Gynecologic health. Call us or visit www.ruthhaskinsmd.com to schedule your appointment today. #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  The CDC is falling apart. The last few hours have been truly disconcerting! CDC Director Susan Monarez, confirmed only weeks ago, was forced out after refusing to go along with RFK Jr.’s demands to reshape our US vaccine policy around politics rather than science. In her place, Jim O’Neill has been installed, a political loyalist with neither medical nor public health background. A venture capitalist elevated not for expertise but for sycophantic obedience. The fallout inside the CDC has been immediate and explosive. Senior leaders with decades of experience in epidemiology and disease preparedness have resigned in protest. Dozens of CDC staff staged a walkout at their Atlanta headquarters, holding signs and demanding rightly, that science, not politics, guide the agency’s work. Outside the walls of the CDC, lawmakers and medical groups have raised alarms, warning that the credibility of America’s top public health institution is being shredded in real time. This isn’t just routine Washington turnover. It is reckless at a moment when the country continues to face COVID variants, measles outbreaks, rising maternal mortality, and the ever-present risk of another pandemic or other threat. The very people meant to defend the public are the ones being driven out, replaced with Trump government loyalists and ideologues. RFK Jr.’s incompetence isn’t just embarrassing, it is dangerous. Each day this crisis drags on, the United States becomes less prepared to respond to health emergencies, and we are all the ones left exposed. www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #cdcend? #ladydocfolsom #obgyn #ruthhaskinsmd  Have we had enough yet? Children gunned down in schools and even in churches, while we still can’t pass basic gun reform. Children bombed in Ukraine, growing up with trauma that will last long after the war is forgotten by the rest of the world. Children in Gaza starving, trapped in a conflict they didn’t create. Children denied vaccines because propaganda drowns out science. Children trafficked, raped, and victimized by Epstein and others like him, while the powerful who enabled it face no consequences. Everywhere we look, children are paying the price. And yet, what happens? A flood of statements. Condolences. Committees. Hearings. “Thoughts and prayers.” Headlines that flare and fade. It’s all talk designed to give the appearance of action, while the suffering continues. The real tragedy is that we’ve grown numb. Mass shootings are shrugged off as “the cost of freedom.” Civilian deaths dismissed as “collateral damage.” Hunger is treated as an inevitability, misinformation as just “another opinion.” We use softened language to excuse what should be unbearable. What’s going on in our world? It’s not just cruelty, it’s paralysis. Outrage rises, burns so very hot, but then just fizzles out. We let the moment pass, and the cycle repeats ad infinitum. Meanwhile, children keep dying, suffering, disappearing into forgotten cracks. How many more? How much longer before we decide words aren’t enough? www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #outrage #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  Childbirth carries risk, and most complications happen after delivery. In the U.S., the maternal mortality rate is substantially higher than countries like Canada, the U.K., and Norway, where rates are generally below about 1/3 of those in the USA. Many complications are preventable. Watch for symptoms like unusual bleeding, persistent headaches, fever, or chest pain and attend follow-up visits, and stay in touch with your healthcare team. These simple things can make a big difference as can support from family and friends to help ensure any warning signs are noticed quickly. With awareness, timely care, and support, recovery after childbirth can be safe and smooth, letting families enjoy the first weeks with their new baby. Most importantly, trust your body, if things don’t feel right, don’t ignore it, and contact your healthcare professional. www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #postpartum #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  In recent weeks, the federal government has pulled funding from dozens of vaccine projects. That includes over 20 mRNA programs — some aimed at flu, RSV, and bird flu — and more than 40 NIH grants tied to vaccine access and hesitancy. Researchers warn the move could set back progress just as new threats are on the horizon. The U.S. has long been a leader in vaccine science, but some now wonder if that edge is slipping. It’s a reminder that science doesn’t stand still — and when we slow down, we risk falling behind. Ruthhaskinsmd.com #fundresearch #getvaccinated #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhskinsmd  Apparently, today is packed with National Days I never knew existed. It’s National Relaxation Day, National Lemon Meringue Pie Day, and even Check the Chip Day (yes, for your pet’s microchip). But the winner goes to… National Hawaiian Shirt Day. 🌺🌴 I didn’t even know that was a thing! If only every Friday came with pie and a floral button-up, the world might be a calmer, tastier place. So, relax a little, wear your brightest shirt, and maybe sneak in a slice of pie—because who’s going to argue with that combination? www.ruthhaskinsmd.com #funday #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd  |
AuthorDr. Haskins brings over 30 years of experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology As a former CMA President, she is actively involved in the political process and is well known at the state capitol and in congress as a passionate advocate for women's health care. Archives
November 2025
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