Current Events > California vs Texas on pandemic handling. California comes out on top.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://khn.org/news/article/california-and-texas-took-different-routes-to-vaccination-whos-ahead/

California and Texas, the countrys two most populous states, have taken radically different approaches to the pandemic and the vaccination campaign to end it.

California has trumpeted its reliance on science and policies it says are aimed at improving social equity.

Texas state officials have emphasized individual rights and protecting the economy, often ignoring public health warnings but encouraging vaccination while calling it a personal choice.

Overall, however, Californias pandemic metrics have been better. As it opened vaccine eligibility to all ages on April 15, 49% of Californians 16 and older were either partially or fully vaccinated, compared with 43% of Texans.

California is also doing much better when it comes to driving down infections. The states seven-day average is 52.7 cases and 1.8 deaths per 100,000 as of April 15, with a seven-day average positivity rate of 1.5%. Texas, meanwhile, is at 73.3 cases and 1.5 deaths per 100,000, with a seven-day average positivity rate of 7%.

The states leaders have reacted differently to those metrics. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has set June 15 as the day to end most pandemic restrictions, barring major setbacks, but he plans to continue to require mask-wearing in public and in high-risk workplaces. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on March 10 allowed all businesses to fully reopen and lifted a statewide mask mandate.

The concept of individual freedom plays well in Texas politics and has been front and center throughout the pandemic and the vaccine rollout. While encouraging Texans to protect themselves against the spread of the coronavirus, state officials at the same time have fought local authorities efforts to enforce such measures.

While Newsom instituted one of the earliest and strictest state lockdowns in the country on March 19, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initially called local mask mandates and business restrictions unlawful and unenforceable. Abbott finally instituted a mask mandate and other restrictions in July after a surge of the disease. Those measures met opposition within his own party, with Texas Republican Chair Allen West leading a protestoutside the governors mansion in October.

Against this tense political backdrop, Texas state leaders have been softer in their vaccination messaging compared with California. Both governors received their vaccinations on live TV, but each has offered different messaging about how their constituents should view the shots.

Public health experts in Texas have been frustrated by what they see as a half-hearted endorsement of public health measures. Its psychotic to have to listen to two very different messages, said Dr. Andrea Caracostis, CEO of the HOPE Clinic in Houston, which serves minorities and immigrants. Vaccines were not made just for your individual protection. They were made for community benefit. It is a message that has been lost in our society.

Newsom, on the other hand, talks about vaccines in terms of responsibility to others. Getting vaccinated is a vital step we can take to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community, and brings us that much closer to ending this pandemic, Newsom said on April 1, when he received his vaccination.

Newsoms oft-repeated north star value is equity the notion that the well-being of those hurt most by the pandemic should be essential to the battle against it. Starting March 4, his administration allocated 40% of its vaccines to neighborhoods that have seen 40% of covid cases and deaths. California has also invested $52.7 million to fund more than 300 trusted messenger community organizations to do outreach on vaccines. He didnt make the general public eligible for vaccination until April 15 in order to prioritize more vulnerable and at-risk groups. Texas, meanwhile, fully opened the vaccine spigot on March 29.

vs



Not surprising in the slightest. One chose science and compassion while the other side chose pride and stupidity.

Are you dudes surprised?

don't mess with texas

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I'm going back to Cali

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The Trent posted...

don't mess with texas

Youre back. What the hell happened?

this happened



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Someone please inform Joe Rogan

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The Trent posted...

this happened

Im being serious! What really happened?

Huh I never knew greg abbott was wheelchair bound

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theAteam posted...

Huh I never knew greg abbott was wheelchair bound

Yup. Guy was involved in a bad accident in the 80s.

ZannoL posted...

Im being serious! What really happened?

i got moderated i don't remember why

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The Trent posted...

i got moderated i don't remember why

Oh

Can you try to not be moderated in the future?

why?
aw you missed me?

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A little.

And be good from here on out. I know you can do it.

ZannoL posted...

A little.
And be good from here on out. I know you can do it.

you're right, all the other people throughout my life who tried to reel me in were fools but it took a zannol to impart that upon me

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*waves blue flag*

We're number 1! We're number 1!

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/c1/1b/18/c11b1885ad068e3ef12fa02b745570e3.jpg

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9.8% of texans got covid about ~1.5% of those infected died.

9.4% of californians got covid about ~1.6% of those infected died.

the national average was 9.8% with 1.8% of those infected died

in California vs Texas, no one came out 'on top', just like every other american state.

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lol

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