Your Daily Public Health Briefing

LA Leaders Launch Private Foundation to Offset $50M in Public Health Cuts

• Los Angeles community leaders and civic partners have established The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, a privately funded foundation, to safeguard essential public health services amidst nearly $50 million in budget reductions to LA County public health programs since early 2025. These cuts have led to service reductions and workforce impacts, including the closure of seven public health clinics, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. The foundation aims to generate flexible, non-federal revenue for disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency preparedness, serving all residents regardless of immigration status, income, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

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• The 2025-2026 flu season, now concluding, has seen 139 pediatric deaths due to influenza, with a striking 85% of these cases involving unvaccinated children. This highlights the critical importance of vaccination in protecting vulnerable populations, especially children, from life-threatening flu complications. Public health officials are using data on the most frequently reported virus type, Influenza A(H3N2), to predict and manage future outbreaks, though the nasal spray flu shot, FluMist, is currently sold out.

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