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Standing in a West Sacramento high school cafeteria in 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised fundamental reforms to the state’s job training programs. A few months later, he was in front of a fire truck in Modesto, and later, in a welding classroom in Redding, making the same promise.

It was a “point of pride,” Newsom said last year.

Now, a handful of those reforms are underway. A new inter-agency council, designed to increase collaboration among workforce providers, is meeting next week. The state is also developing a new kind of digital resume that would help students and workers consolidate information about their work experience and education.

But as the state faces yet another budget deficit, a flagship workforce program could be forced to scale back. One of the state’s leading agencies for coordinating workforce training, the California Workforce Development Board, could lose 20% of its staff.

In the governor’s budget proposal for 2026-27 fiscal year, several workforce programs, including the governor’s “high road training partnerships,” would receive little or no new funding, meaning that they could shut down by the time the next governor assumes office or soon thereafter. The Legislature has already passed a budget that largely accepts Newsom’s proposals, and the governor has until the end of the month to approve it.

Some job training organizations criticized the governor’s proposal to withhold new funding this year.

“At a time when affordability is such a massive concern, it feels like we’re focusing on what things cost and not enough on what people can earn,” said Julia Hatton, the president of the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, told CalMatters. Her organization trains workers for jobs in construction and climate-related careers and has received nearly $4 million in state workforce grants.

However, in a legislative hearing in April, Allison Hewitt, a budget analyst with California’s Department of Finance said the state is still committed to workforce development and that the board’s budget isn’t being cut, just that it isn’t receiving new funding. The workforce development board received a “surge” of grants over the past few years, and those dollars have been spent so less funding is available this year, she said.

That did not sit well with at least one legislator.

“I mean, you can say that all you want,” said Sen. María Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles Democrat, in response. “But if we’re not proposing funding for that … then you’re basically saying this is gonna be the new policy. The bottom line is without funding, it’s not a reality.”

In an emailed statement to CalMatters, Marissa Saldivar, a spokesperson for the governor, said Newsom’s workforce plan focuses on “structural changes to benefit students, which does not always require funding.”

H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for California’s Department of Finance, responded in the same email, saying that the current budget proposes over $250 million in new workforce funds, including in healthcare and construction.

By comparison, the state put over $2.2 billion into new workforce grants in the 2022-23 budget year.

Have workforce programs succeeded?

For decades, states and the federal government have pumped money into job training programs, especially for low-income workers without college degrees, but the results are often poor. Graduates end up earning minimum-wage or landing in jobs with low retention, where many workers quit within the first year.

To improve outcomes, California created the high road training partnerships to target job training programs that yield long-lasting, living-wage employment where the employer, not just the government, has a stake in the worker’s professional growth. Starting around 2014, the state put a small amount of money into these programs, said Stewart Knox, the secretary of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

In 2021 and 2022, the state made “massive investments in the workforce,” he said, pumping hundreds of millions into high-road programs all across the state, including in construction, healthcare, technology and in public sector jobs. The state sent money to current and former oil workers to help them retrain for careers when refineries close. It also sent money to youth apprenticeship programs.

Results have been mixed. In the high-road program, some grants helped train hundreds or thousands of workers for union jobs while other grants created few concrete benefits for workers. One grant was supposed to train workers at the electric vehicle company Proterra, but the company closed before workers could begin.

This year, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, a Los Angeles Democrat, is proposing a bill to further restrict how the high-road money is used.

Out of the roughly 1,700 oil workers who could benefit from the state’s retraining grants, only about 500 participated as of May, according to a bill analysis. That bill, authored by Culver City Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and San Rafael Assemblymember Damon Connolly, both Democrats, would give grantees more time to spend the money.

A ‘master plan’ for career education

In 2023, Newsom’s workforce plans culminated with an executive order calling for the creation of a master plan for career education that would create a “new foundation” for the state. The plan, released in 2025, called for better coordination among the state’s workforce providers, who often compete for the same students. The master plan also called for more high-road job training programs and highlighted ongoing work supporting youth apprentices.

“We’re definitely not done. We’re kind of mid-stage,” said Knox. “What you’re seeing is a little less money, yes, in terms of programs, but that’s because we did such massive investments from 2021 on into the system (and) those outcomes now are what we’re focused on.”

Knox pointed to outcomes from the master plan, including the growth of dual enrollment, which allows high school students to take college classes. The state is also helping thousands more students get college credit for their prior work experience, he said.

Palmer, with the state’s Department of Finance, said in an email that the current proposal from the Legislature includes more funding both for dual enrollment and to help college students get credit for their work experience. Those funding allocations, however, come from a different pot of money, known as Proposition 98, which is largely restricted to education.

The Shirley Ware Education Center, a national job training nonprofit founded in Oakland, was among the earliest and largest recipients of the high-road training grants, which it used to help over 5,500 workers find better jobs, mostly in the healthcare industry. All told, the organization received more than $40 million in state workforce dollars starting in 2017.

“When the state was flush with cash, they put a lot of money into these programs,” said Rebecca Hanson, the executive director. Now, she said the state budget deficit makes it “hard to argue” for increased funding, especially when so many other core services are facing cuts.

Hanson’s high-road workforce grant ends in 2027, but even then, she said she isn’t too worried, since her organization has other funding and is used to these fluctuations in state support. “My hope is that by the time we’re talking about 2028, we’ll be able to find other money.”

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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A union wants California’s billionaires to rescue the state’s healthcare system. The billionaires have other ideas.

On June 17, an initiative to tax the state’s wealthiest residents qualified for the ballot, according to the secretary of state’s office, which verifies petition signatures.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has consistently swatted down the idea of tax increases throughout his tenure, emerged early as an opponent of the proposed tax. Wealthy allies in Silicon Valley joined the fray armed with deep pockets and threats to leave the state, which depends disproportionately on high earners for revenue.

The union funding the measure, Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, says California needs the revenue that would be generated by the measure to rescue the healthcare system from deep cuts that the Trump administration made last year in the president’s tax reform package, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

Newsom is reportedly trying to negotiate a last-minute deal that would pull the initiative before the ballot is finalized on June 25.

What would it do?

The proposed initiative would levy a one-time 5% tax on California residents whose net worth exceeded $1 billion at the start of this year. The tax would hit roughly 200 people, and billionaires could pay in installments over five years.

Proponents of the measure estimate it would generate $100 billion for the state. The revenue would go into a special fund with 90% reserved for healthcare spending and 10% for education and food assistance programs.

The Legislature would control the funds and could allocate up to $25 billion annually to designated programs including Medi-Cal and CalFresh.

It needs a simple majority to pass.

Who is supporting it?

The state’s largest healthcare workers union is bankrolling the measure, pouring more than $31 million into the campaign. “We are facing literally a collapse of our healthcare system here in California and elsewhere,” Dave Regan, president of SEIU-UHW, said in October when the campaign launched.

The union, which is known for wielding ballot measures aggressively, argues that federal healthcare cuts will result in hospital and clinic closures, worsened patient access and thousands of lost jobs if the state doesn’t step in to backfill tens of billions of federal dollars. The group also points out that the Trump tax breaks for income, businesses and investments disproportionately benefit the wealthy people who would then be subject to the proposed billionaire tax.

“Whether or not folks support this, they can’t deny that these massive cuts to healthcare are coming,” said union spokesperson Renée Saldaña. “Nobody else has a solution to fill this massive $100 billion funding gap that is facing California.”

Saldaña noted that people signing the initiative petition were supportive and sometimes wanted the tax to be continuous rather than one-time.

“This is popular. The public is feeling the strain of their own healthcare costs,” she said.

The measure has won high-profile support from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. A handful of local unions as well as the Teamsters and AFSCME California have also backed the measure.

Who is opposed to it?

Newsom is an unsurprising and vocal critic of the proposal. He has long argued that increased taxes would drive wealthy people and businesses out of the state. In a recent appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Newsom claimed that “we’ve already seen dozens and dozens of people leave the state.”

Google co-founder Sergey Brin, with a net worth of $300 billion, according to Forbes, reportedly moved to Nevada because of the tax threat. Brin, a one-time supporter of liberal causes turned Trump supporter, is also the biggest spender among opponents. As of June 15, he has contributed $82 million to Building a Better California, which is funding multiple countermeasures designed to invalidate or weaken the initiative should it pass. The committee has not, however, taken a position on the wealth tax.

The top two measures — the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act and the Improving Transparency, Effectiveness and Efficiency in California Government Act — will also likely appear on the November ballot. The retirement act would prohibit new state taxes on personal property, effectively canceling the billionaire tax if both measures pass. The transparency act would require audits of state programs funded by special taxes.

Other tech and industry titans, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt, worth $43.3 billion, Kleiner Perkins chairman John Doerr, worth $25 billion, and The Wonderful Company president Stewart Resnick, worth $5.4 billion, have donated millions of dollars to Brin’s committee.

Ripple Labs co-founder Chris Larsen, worth an estimated $12.4 billion, also started Golden State Promise, a political action committee dedicated to opposing the tax initiative directly. Venture capitalist Ron Conway, who does not appear on Forbes’ billionaires list, is funding a third group, Stop The Squeeze.

Collectively, the opposition campaigns have raised $107.9 million as of June 15, according to state campaign finance data.

Robert Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, said one of the most concerning parts of the proposal is a provision allowing the Legislature to amend the tax after passage. “They can change the level of taxation; they can change how often they get taxed; they can keep ratcheting down the income level of who pays it.” The union disputes this claim.

Progressive groups like Planned Parenthood and the California Teachers Association have opposed the measure in recent weeks. Healthcare industry groups like the California Medical Association, California Primary Care Association and California Hospital Association also oppose it.

What’s really going on with healthcare?

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which Congress passed last year, enacts a number of sweeping changes to Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income people and those with disabilities.

Over time, experts say the changes will dramatically reduce the number of people with publicly funded insurance through mandates such as work requirements and shorter eligibility periods. The law also limits federal Medicaid spending. Because Medicaid programs draw on state and federal dollars, reductions in enrollment or federal spending mean less money for states like California.

The state Department of Health Care Services projected early on that federal cuts could cost California $30 billion annually. Roughly 14 million people rely on Medicaid, also known as Medi-Cal, in California.

State lawmakers have also grappled with successive budget deficits and ballooning program costs. Last year, Newsom and the Legislature limited Medi-Cal enrollment for low-income people without legal status. State leaders are eyeing additional cuts this year to align with new federal requirements.

Miranda Dietz, director of the Health Care Program at the UC Berkeley Labor Center, said close to 3 million Californians will lose healthcare over the next two years as a result of state and federal changes.

“The need for health insurance and healthcare is not going anywhere,” Dietz said.

What are the challenges?

Should the measure pass, it will surely face legal challenges that could tie the potential revenue up for years, experts say. The seemingly retroactive nature of the tax invites a constitutional challenge, many say, though supporters reject those concerns. The initiative proposes taxing those who are California residents as of Jan. 1, 2026, meaning those who have since left the state would still owe it.

Mark Peterson, a public policy professor at UCLA School of Law, said revenue from the initiative would “make a huge difference” in helping the state offset federal funding losses, but that’s only if the initiative survives legal challenges and efforts by billionaires to move or hide assets.

Economists and state budget watchers are also wary of the number of billionaires who have already left the state, taking their assets and businesses with them. Only six people moved out of state last year before the proposed tax would apply to them, but their collective worth would have generated the state $27 billion, Fortune reported. Others, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, worth $231 billion, have also reportedly moved out but not before Jan. 1.

On the other hand, there’s no evidence yet that a majority of the state’s 200 billionaires are leaving. Some, including former gubernatorial candidate and billionaire Tom Steyer, have stated they support the proposal.

Early polling shows 50% of voters favor the initiative, with most strongly behind it, according to the UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research-POLITICO poll. But that is not as strong a position as it may seem: 54% of voters are concerned about wealthy individuals leaving the state, and 63% are concerned about them taking their businesses with them. A UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies-Los Angeles Times poll from March showed similar division among voters with 52% in support.

Generally, campaigns running ballot initiatives want their early polling numbers to be much higher because support nearly always dwindles as the election creeps closer.

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

Marlene J. “Marla” West
June 24, 1933 – March 27, 2026

Marlene J. West (known to many of us as Marla) passed away peacefully at Frye’s Care Home on the evening of March 27, 2026 at the age of 92. She had touched many peoples’ lives throughout her long life and was visited frequently by close friends and devoted family members in her final days.

Marla was born on June 24, 1933, in Redondo Beach, California to Joe and Alice Cooper. She grew up on the family farm in Grants Pass — a rural upbringing she spoke of very fondly. She enjoyed sharing stories of rural life in Oregon where her father was the town butcher and her mother was the manager of their farm. Those early years instilled in Marla a deep love of the land and a true respect for nature and all its beauty.

In her early years, Marla was a keen horsewoman and animal lover. As a child was clearly a very talented musician and was given a grand piano which was kept in her bedroom. This instrument was her most treasured possession and it would go with her wherever she went for the rest of her life.

In high school, she met Bob Collins and accompanied his singing at state music championships. They were soon married and embarked upon a life of moving around the country in search of business opportunities. With them came their three children Wendy, Jeff, and Dirk as they travelled from Oregon to Virginia, Washington to New York and finally to California. Wherever they settled, Marla was a creative homemaker, a talented seamstress and a faithful church organist.

When the family arrived in Humboldt County, Marla enrolled at Humboldt State University and went on to earn degrees in Music, Art and English Literature. Influenced by the writings of Henry David Thoreau, she purchased a piece of land in the mountains above Jacoby Creek and designed for herself a handmade house. She was then beckoned by the sea and moved to Trinidad where she was curator of the local art gallery, teacher of creative writing and co-founder of the Westhaven Community Arts.

Marla’s creativity was evident in everything she did and she was a member of many clubs. She was a long term member of the Painters Club where her work sought to capture the natural curves of plants and animals with careful attention to detail. She was a lifelong hiker and an early member of the Sierra Club. She was a devoted gardener and lifetime member of the local Garden Club. She practiced yoga for much of her life and passed on that passion to her daughter and her granddaughter. She took a broad minded approach to spirituality and attended many gatherings; including the Unitarians, the Presbyterians the Trinidad Salons and the Grange.

In 1985, Marla married Robert Lee West and they made their home in Westhaven. There she turned her hand to developing an extensive garden, with her beloved dog Amanda at her side. With Bob, she became a regular visitor to her daughter’s home in England and together they travelled extensively through France, Scotland and Switzerland.

Seeking the warmth of the sun and the friendship of a small community, she later moved to Blue Lake, a town which she soon grew to love. There she fully embraced many of the town’s popular attractions; such as Dell Arte performances, peaceful forest trails and rousing live music performances at the Tap Room and Logger Bar. She made many new friends and enjoyed attending the Blue Lake Wha-nika gatherings, where fabulous food and friendly faces were always on offer. In fact, it was obvious to her visiting grandchildren that, wherever she went, their grandmother received a very warm welcome.

These grandchildren: Bryony, Alec, and Chad were to bring Marla her greatest joy in later years. With part of her family settled in England, she was determined to access the latest computer apps in order to keep in touch. Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat were all in her repertoire. But she could often be heard saying, “You want to know my very favourite app? It’s Messages!” This comment now seems very reflective of the Marla we all knew and loved — so warm and funny, and always present for the people she loved.

Today Marla is survived by her husband, Robert West, her daughter Wendy Rust, her son Jeff Collins and her son Dirk Collins. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren Bryony Rust, Alec Rust and Chad Collins. Marla will always be remembered for her vibrant creative energy. Her life was long, her days were full, and at the heart of it all was her family, who will feel her absence deeply.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Marla West’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Pietro Severino Stagnoli
Dec. 27, 1937 – May 17, 2026

Pietro entered the gates of Heaven, with his children by his side on May 17, 2026. He was born on December 27, 1937, to Guiseppe and Giulia Stagnoli in Brescia, Italy. As a teenager Pietro — “Pete” — learned how to make furniture, which developed into a lifelong skill. At age 20 Pietro left Italy to join his father in Orick. His mother and younger brother followed shortly afterwards. 

Pietro married Albina Senestraro in 1961 whom he met at a wedding in Ferndale. Their first son, Paul, was born in 1962. Their second child, Dan, was born in1964 and their daughter, Rina, was born in 1967.

Pietro started working for Georgia Pacific in Samoa in 1960 and then for Louisiana Pacific and prior to his retirement in 2001 the Samoa-Pacific Group. Pete was well known in the town of Samoa as for many years he oversaw the maintenance of all housing within the town. You can still see some of the wood road signs that he made throughout the town. He also worked on the Women’s Club installing redwood wainscoting and extensive upgrades to the Manager’s home as well as the Hostelry in town. He participated in the Samoa Volunteer Fireman’s organization and worked to restore “Miss Mac” the vintage fire truck that competed in Fire Musters throughout the late 1970’s early 1980’s in California. In the late 90’s Louisiana-Pacific sent Pietro to Venezuela to build a Sales Office on an empty floor of a high rise building for the company. Pietro had to draw the plans for the office and organize the shipment of everything that would be needed from the equipment, wood, metal, even down to the number of nails and screws. It was a challenge that he accepted wholeheartedly.

In 1975, Pietro and Albina purchased one acre of land in Salyer, outside of Willow Creek. For the next 44 years they developed it into their sanctuary. Pietro established a small vineyard on that acre where he would harvest the zinfandel grapes planted to make his own wine and Grappa. The joy that plot of land provided to Pietro is immeasurable. When he sold the land to the neighbor he continued to tend to the vines for a year afterwards to ensure the new owner would have a yield of grapes to make their own wine.

Pietro was a devout Catholic attending St. Mary’s Church in Arcata for over 50 years. With his furniture building skills which he learned in Italy, he was able to build the churches current alters, lectern and several picture frames with beautiful birdseye redwood. He spent countless hours helping to decorate the church at Christmas time along with his friend Joe Avelar and other parishioners. Pietro was a member of the Italian Catholic Federation branch #144 in Arcata. He was an integral part of the semi-annual Chicken and Polenta fundraisers, where you could always find him in the kitchen with a bottle of Grappa to share.

Pietro loved to play bocce after he retired from his work. He built a short-lived bocce ball court on the grounds at St. Mary’s church. He teamed up with his older brother Franco, and friend Pat to play in ICF tournaments. He taught Pat to play in one week and they went on to win a tournament shortly afterwards. In Pietro’s later years he found the love of dancing again. He became a member of the Friendship Circle, dancing on Mondays with his longtime friend Shiela.

Pietro is preceded in passing by his Mother Giulia Stagnoli, Father Guiseppe Stagnoli, older brother Franco Stagnoli, sister-in-law Caterina Stagnoli, younger brother Severino and wife Albina.

He is survived by his sons Paul (Lisa) Stagnoli and Dan (Faith) Stagnoli, daughter Rina Brodhag; four grandchildren Celestina (Jerad) Bartley-Meisner, Jason (MacKenzie) Bartley, Severino Stagnoli, and Parker Stagnoli. As well as three great-grandchildren, Lucas Thomas Meisner, Ryan Pietro Meisner, Austin Elizabeth Bartley and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Arcata on Saturday, June 27. Rosary will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the Mass with a reception to follow in the narthex. Private family internment will be held on the same day.

Nancy Lewis was born on December 30, 1935 in Fort Worth, Texas. Nancy passed away on May 17, 2026 at the age of 90. She moved from Southern California to Humboldt County 25 years ago to be closer to her family.

Nancy loved going to Trinity Lake with her daughter and son-in-law, she loved going to Sunriver, Oregon to her daughter and son-in-law’s cabin. She especially loved going to the casino with family and friends.

Nancy is survived by her daughters Glenda d’Usseau (Nick), Tish Osborne (Gary), Myra Sims (Mark) and son Ron Lewis (Crystal); her grandchildren Tim Dossey (Jenn), Dustin Smith, Julian d’Usseau (Sara), Danielle Anderson (Dan), Jaime Purcell (Nick), Carlee Brunner (Rachael), Era Dawn Wescott (Dan), Chris Baxter, Reid Lewis, Lauren Moody (Cole), Lexie Walter (Putter); 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great granddaughters.

We would really like to thank the third floor nursing staff at St. Joseph’s Providence Hospital for their compassion and care of our mother. A special thanks to Dr. Shen and Dr. Hernandez for their caring, kindness and support during this difficult time.

It was mom’s wish to not have a memorial service. Please consider donating to a local animal shelter or rescue. Mom loved all of her family’s dogs like they were her own.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Nancy Lewis’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

PREVIOUSLY:

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On June 1, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the area of Wabash Avenue and Lowell Street following reports of two vehicles driving at a high rate of speed and possible gunfire.

During the initial response from patrol officers, spent shell casings were located in the roadway. Detectives with the Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During a canvas of the area, detectives were able to interview witnesses and obtain video surveillance from the area. A white Porsche SUV and a black Mercedes-Benz SUV were identified as being involved in the incident.

On June 3, 2026, EPD officers located the involved black Mercedes-Benz parked in the area of 9th and N Streets in Eureka. The vehicle was seized and processed for evidence by detectives. On June 11, 2026, the involved white Porsche was located in the area of Sonoma and C Street. That vehicle was also seized and processed as part of the ongoing investigation.

On June 16th, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Anthony Ramirez, 22 years old of Eureka, for three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting from a vehicle.

On June 17, 2026, EPD officers located Ramirez in the 3300 block of Broadway and took him into custody without incident. Ramirez was subsequently booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the listed charges.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Bailey at (707) 441-4300.

Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

Most people think of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, as a disease from the past. Unfortunately, it is still a problem and tends to flare up every three to seven years in communities. Right now, staff from the Public Health Branch of the Department of Health & Human Services is tracking cases of pertussis in Humboldt County that may be the beginning of a spike.

People who spent time at any of the following locations during the month of June, may have been exposed:

• North Coast Nurture Center, 1807 Central Ave., McKinleyville
• Trumpet Behavioral Health, 901 O St., Suite C, Arcata
• Rainbow Dreamers in-home daycare in Fortuna 
• Humboldt Senior Resource Center (Fortuna location), 3200 Newburg Road

If you were at the sites listed above, and develop mild cold symptoms, Public Health officials advise contacting your medical provider and letting them know. Depending on when you were at the site and when your symptoms developed, you might need antibiotics. 

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Candy Stockton said, “Early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antibiotics can reduce the spread of infection, and antibiotics are most effective when started early in the illness.”

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through tiny respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks. Because symptoms often begin like a common cold, many people don’t realize they have pertussis until they have already exposed others.

After a week or two of mild symptoms, the illness can progress to severe coughing fits that may last for weeks or even months. These coughing spells can be so intense that they cause vomiting, rib fractures, exhaustion and difficulty breathing. 

The characteristic “whoop” sound after coughing is more common in children, many adolescents and adults never develop it, making the disease more difficult to recognize. Vaccines including Tdap (for adults) and DTaP (for children), reduce the risk of getting whopping cough if you are exposed and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill if you do become infected. It’s important to remember that immunity from both vaccination and previous infection decreases over time. This means adults can become infected again, often with milder symptoms, and unknowingly spread the disease to vulnerable infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. 

Staying up to date on recommended boosters is an important part of protecting those around us.

While pertussis can affect people of any age, it is especially dangerous for infants younger than 12 months. Babies are at the highest risk for complications because their immune systems are still developing, and many have not yet completed their primary vaccination series. Serious complications can include pneumonia, seizures, brain injury due to lack of oxygen and in extreme cases even death. Many infants who contract pertussis require hospitalization for supportive care.

For additional information about pertussis and where to get vaccinated, visit the California Department of Public Health website, talk to your medical provider or phone Humboldt County Public Health’s Communicable Disease Program at 707-268-2182.