On August 31st, Chair Nathan Fletcher, Supervisor of San Diego County’s Fourth District, proposed a law that says “health misinformation” related to Covid is now considered a health crisis – which in turn caused some residents of San Diego to speak out in frustration.
The following is his ordinance in full:
DATE: August 31, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: FRAMEWORK FOR OUR FUTURE: DECLARING HEALTH MISINFORMATION A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
OVERVIEW
The resurging pandemic has led to more infections and hospitalizations than the region has seen since the beginning of the year and ICU capacity is once again being tested. The U.S. Surgeon General has recently warned that health misinformation presents an urgent threat to public health.
Therefore, urgent action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant by combatting misinformation, thereby supporting our health care system and, in turn, saving lives. There would be a substantial detrimental effect on the County and public if nof acted upon immediately. For these reasons, this Board Letter requires immediate action at the next Board meeting.
This Board Letter declares health misinformation to be a public health crisis. At a pivotal time in our history, with an FDA-approved vaccine available to all San Diegans free of charge and booster shots recommended later this year, health misinformation now presents a greater threat to public health than a variant of COVID-19. In response, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego recognizes the vaccine hesitancy, that stands in the way of the County moving beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, is being fueled by the spread of health misinformation, and commits to developing strategies to actively combat health misinformation. Following the recommendations of the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy in his advisory entitled “Confronting Health Misinformation,” 1 this board letter acknowledges the role misinformation has had in the resurgence of CO VID-19 infections, once again filling hospital capacity, and driving the deaths and hospitalizations of thousands, including San Diegans2 and committing County resources to work with trusted stakeholders to aggressively counter misinformation in our community and engage in outreach based on best practices.
We strongly urge your support for the recommendations in this letter to recognize health misinformation as the threat to public health that it is, and take the necessary steps towards a stronger, healthier future.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHAIR NATHAN FLETCHER
I.) Approve resolution titled “Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego Declaring Health Misinformation a Public Health Crisis.”
2.) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to implement the following strategies cited by the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy in his advisory entitled “Confronting Health Misinformation,” and report back within 90 days on the status of implementation and within 180 days upon completion:
a.) Devote resources to identify and label health misinformation and disseminate timely health information to counter misinformation that is impeding our ability to keep our community safe,
b.) Modernize public health communications with investments to better understand gaps in health information, and questions and concerns of the community, especially in hardto- reach communities. Develop targeted community engagement strategies, including partnerships with trusted messengers,
c.) Expand our research efforts to better define and understand the sources of health misinformation, document and trace its costs and negative impacts, and develop strategies to address and counter it across mediums and diverse communities,
d.) Invest in resilience against health misinformation including digital resources and training for health practitioners and health workers. Explore educational programs to help our communities distinguish evidence-based information from opinion and personal stories.
e.) Partner with federal, state, territorial, tribal, private, nonprofit, research, and other local entities to identify best practices to stop the spread of health misinformation and develop and implement coordinated recommendations.
f.) Identify resource gaps to combating health misinformation and working with state and federal partners to meet ongoing needs.
g.) Work with the medical community and local partners to develop a website that will serve as a central resource for combating health misinformation in our community.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of individuals, businesses, and communities across San Diego County. Recent studies have found that online misinformation campaigns are associated with a decrease in vaccinations over time, which impacts all communities’ ability to reach herd immunity.3 But, the impacts are greater in ethnic minority communities as a majority of non-white adults were found to be hesitant to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. 4 Studies have found vaccine and healthcare distrust continue to serve as major barriers to addressing racial equity in Covid-19 vaccine efforts. 5 It is believed that developing sustainable and sound strategies to mitigate and combat misinformation, such through the actions proposed in this Board action, is crucial to closing health outcomes gaps within Black and Hispanic communities and achieving overall public health goals.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. There may be future fiscal impacts associated with final recommendations which would need to be approved by the Board
BACKGROUND
This Board Letter declares health misinformation to be a public health crisis. At a pivotal time in our history, with an FDA-approved vaccine available to all San Diegans free of charge, health misinformation now presents a greater threat to public health than a variant of COVID-19. In response, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego recognizes the vaccine hesitancy, that stands in the way of the County moving beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, is being fueled by the spread of health misinformation, and commits to developing strategies to actively combat health misinformation.
Since vaccines became widely available in mid-April, there has been a local and national surge in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations that has once again threatened to strain hospital resources and put the health and safety of our community at risk. Slowing vaccination rates have made more San Diegans susceptible to contracting the more contagious Delta variant which has led to infection rates not seen since January of 2021.
7 Research has shown that people are increasingly turning to the internet and social media channels for health information which has enabled public health professionals, including local health departments, to expand their reach but it has also facilitated the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation. 8 The prevalence of falsehoods undermining confidence in the vaccine has surged in recent months fueling unfounded notions that vaccines don’t work, that they contain microchips, that people should rely on their “natural immunity” instead of getting vaccinated, that the vaccines cause miscarriages, among other erroneous assertions.
9 While empirical data and the broad scientific consensus point to the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective against preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death from the Delta variant, 10 misinformation and disinformation has played a significant role in undermining vaccine utilization and compliance with public health guidelines, such as those related to masks. 11 Misinformed beliefs about vaccines and public health guidelines have turned this into what many have labeled a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
12 On August 23rd, the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older. 13 As our community and our country looks to tum the page on the pandemic, and as booster shots become more important to maintaining our recovery, confronting and combating misinformation becomes vital to saving lives and realizing our shared public health goals.
The Surgeon General has said “health misinformation is a serious threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people’s health, and undermine public health efforts. Limiting the spread of health misinformation is a moral and civic imperative.” 14 This board letter signals the Board’s agreement with the Surgeon General and affirms the Board’s commitment to taking action to combat misinformation. We strongly urge your support for the recommendations in this letter to recognize health misinformation as the threat to public health that it is, and take the necessary steps towards a stronger, healthier future.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Live Well San Diego Initiative in the County’s Strategic Plan, and its vision for San Diego that is Building Better Health, Living Safely, Thriving, by supporting and defending public health efforts.
Respectfully submitted,
NATHAN FLETCHER
Supervisor, Fourth District
1 “Confronting Health Misinformation, The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Healthy Information Environment,” Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, July 2021
2 “Coronavirus Doctors Battle Another Scourge: Misinformation,” August 17, 2020, New York Times
3 Wilson S.L., Wiysonge C. Social media and vaccine hesitancy. BMJ Global Health. 2020;5(10)
4 Reinhart R.J. Gallup; 2020. More Americans now willing to get COVID-19 vaccine.
5 Ndugga N., Artiga S., Pham 0. Kaiser Family Foundation; 2021. How are states addressing racial equity in COVID-19 vaccine efforts? https://www .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMCS I l 74 78/
6 Xiang D, Lehmann L., Health Policy Technol. 2021 Sep; 10(3): 100520. Confronting the misinformation pandemic
7 August 19th case numbers in San Diego are the highest one-day total since late January, NBC San Diego
8 “Misinformation: A Threat to the Public’s Health and the Public Health System,” Journal of Public Health Management and Practice: May/June 2020
9 “Virus Misinformation Spikes as Delta Cases Surge,” August 10, 2021, New York Times
10 Safety and Effectiveness ofCOVID-19 Vaccines, Johns Hopkins Medicine
11 Health-related misinformation dan erousl undermines res nse to ublic health crisis, Center for Health Security
12 Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, on July 16th at briefing of the White House COVID-19 Response Team
13 Full FDA-approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, August 23, 2021, New York Times
14 “Misinformation is ‘serious threat to public health,’ surgeon general warns,” July 15, 2021, NBC News
The reactions of many following this announcement were not well received to say the least. KUSI News: San Diego’s More Local News Station, reported on a chunk of the responses of the people and others in the local government.
The reality is there is another outcome to this. It is these people right here. It ends when we say it ends. And it ends now. You will be removed from office for crossing the line on the Constitution and our rights. As business owners, as parents, we will not stand for what you are trying to shove down our throats.
Ryan Smith said
When I joined the US Marine Corps, I made a vow to protect our country from enemies both foreign and domestic. Never in my wildest dreams, did I think that the would be under attack from a domestic threat like they are today.
Eugene Neal stated
The crisis is not our people speaking out, the crisis is government control and hypocrisy.
What’s next @NathanFletcher, are you going to make me cut my dreads?
Louis Uridel told the board
What you are doing right now, trampling on our rights, invalidates everything you say you once fought for.
Said Marine Giorgio Kirylo
A mother presented a 16 year-old girl who has a congenital hearing defect, and is concerned of what the vaccine may due to her daughter, noting that the Covid vaccines have been proven to Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart).
FDA Forced To Admit MRNA Covid Vaccines Cause Heart Inflammation
You can see more responses on KUSI’s website.
A couple of weeks prior to this move by Fletcher, he posted an abrasive and profanity-laced message on Instagram, implying that residents of San Diego are too dumb to research Covid for themselves.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you want more “misinformation” to read on, and actually use your brain to critically think and draw your own conclusions, feel free to pursue our MANY articles blowing the lid off of Covid and these “vaccines;” or check out the sidebar reports under the “Featured” and “Poplar” posts categories.
But now, more and more, just having the ability to have free will and thought is eroding. Do NOT back down. Keep fighting.
U.S.A’s Own Social Credit Score System Is Coming Soon
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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It’s all moving so fast that I can’t help but wonder what things will be like a year from now.
I think that when over 200 million die from the death jabs and that includes government, law enforcement and healthcare workers doctors and nurses included, there will be those remaining that are armed to the teeth and most if not all will truly be repenting, not the revival that these hirelings blabber on about, but as God’s word says if I remember correctly (I don’t remember which verse specifically and I’m open to correction and direction) that some flesh needs to be killed off that others might be saved. The whole country will be in shambles politically and economically although rewards for the righteous and stood strong and fight.
You may be thinking of something from the Prophets or history when God judged Israel or Judah. Maybe why even the revivals that brought a stay of judgment, didn’t stay it completely, because of Manasseh’s reign?
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This is the verse that came to mind at your description, though:
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John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
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This was the high priest explaining why they had to kill a righteous man to keep the Romans from destroying them, if you’re thinking of this one. Given purely from the humanist position.
IMO, which I believe is backed by both scripture & what is historically known of the man: it was motivated by pure survivalist political pragmatism on his part, but God was still controlling things & the fulfillment of his will, the prophecy fulfilled, the awful price being paid still came about through this evil man’s free will. It’s awful. And, it’s amazing. And it lends perspective to our situation.
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Joh 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Joh 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
“Health misinformation now presents a greater threat to public health than a variant of COVID-19”. Really? How does that work? Define misinformation. Go into detail, all you arrogant Nathan Fletchers of the world. I’d make them elaborate on that statement and force them to build a case just on that statement alone, with plenty of examples and illustrations. Give them the floor and spell it out for us peons who can’t “do the research”, “write an abstract,” or do a “literature review”. To quote this jerk, “it is highly probable [they] will not be able to do so”.
lol! Liz, you honed in on something that got to me, too. Homeschooling, we taught looking for truth & proving all things, analysis in critical thinking, spotting logical fallacies…more like, we read about them & discussed them, & the examples. Then as we would read positions or articles we would discuss them again as we saw fallacies being applied, opinions & assumptions made & let standing without any demonstration of fact or reason for them.
What REALLY got to me was when the Reformed Augustinian and Creationist types from where we learned to spot logical fallacies committed them themselves when it came to the Bible, a pet theory or doctrine! And their response when it was pointed out. You know, the Bible is really the only place there are NO fallacies or logical missteps. It’s not like that when you’re working with man’s institutions where all men’s failings come into play.
We had some tangles with local school officials, and made some missteps, but we got through it and our daughter easily passed high school equivalence, aced a vocational program which didn’t turn out to suit her strengths in science, so she tested into college for a health sciences degree as a CMT, certified med tech.
She originally wanted to be a nurse, but actual interning revealed the strong emphasis there on pharma & pill pushing, digital records-keeping responsibility & pressure pushed off by doctors onto them, limiting their actual interaction with patients & care.
There is a lot of ridiculous pomposity and unchallenged power & privilege in upper education, with a ton of hoops for people to jump through. Anyways, in the course of fulfilling the requirements, she had to take a writing course & write a research paper. So she came into contact with some of those terms & procedures, & what is sadly called ‘critical thinking’ these days. He’s simply talking the talk, which impresses a certain crowd & type of person for whom the means becomes the end!
A professional academic with little to no connection to the real world. The only place they can work is in ‘government education’ or ‘government’ itself! Then they all flatter one another with their mutual understanding of the big philosophical terms for simple things (better if in Greek or Latin…lol). Think Annas & Caiphas, & Calvin. The scholastics were big from Aquinas on, & it affected Luther, too. But he was more biblical and grounded, less ‘refined’ than the wine-swilling French John Calvin. They mocked the beer-swilling German Luther. And they were all ‘doctors’.
Some of this covid stuff is just the tragi-comedy of errors where layers of these people are involved. All the inner/upper core Jesuit-Master types who KNOW what they’re doing have to do is put it in play & ‘coach’ it here & there while letting the people in these layers & positions reliably act it out according to the types of character that go into those sorts of positions in the first place!
With regard to Annas & Caiphas, & Calvin & Luther, I find it fascinating & amazing how God yet used these men in the fulfillment of his perfect word, & the salvation of souls, & the purifications of his word. Luther used the right text due to Erasmus (a priest’s bastard son!), and Calvin’s Geneva was in the line of seven purifications as Psalm 12 resulting in the King James Bible.
Our daughter chose to write her college paper on the issues with vaccines. They mocked her. The professor told her she could only use .edu and ‘certified’ sources and no plain internet articles, social media stuff, etc; thinking it would kill it dead. (They don’t realize that it’s the ripped off & conditioned public school kids & vaccine compliant who are the ones using the fluff&stuff with no substance, following opinions blindly. And they think THEY are following hard science & authoritative.)
So, that’s what she did. This prof turned out to have some character, & was taken aback. He had no clue, & he actually took her aside after class, told her that, & thanked her. Now, he’s still bound by union, education & certification, debt, pension and the system of tenure and all of that….but this is why there are people scattered throughout who ARE ‘getting it’. He also gave her an ‘A’ for ‘form’ which means she jumped through & fulfilled all the ‘abstract’, ‘literature review’ etc stuff: but it was the truth & content which took him aback.
It’s frustrating. Vexing. But it’s the way of a sophisticatedly corrupt system such as Romish European Babylonianism or the state of Judaism when they were repeatedly judged, & when Jesus came.
America got a reprieve due to the Bible literacy, preaching & revival by the grace & mercy of God that lingered in blessing far longer than any deserving as they did.
But all such things collapse because of the truth of James 1 and Romans 1-3, even while people like Daniel & the Hebrew children, those who witnessed the events of the Roman conquests & dominion with Jesus coming into it, & us, today. Every generation is tried, and it seems that apparent peace & prosperity, often coming of men’s crafting deceit & compromise, & on the terms of the god of this world, more than God’s blessing, is the hardest trial & test of all. People forget the source of every blessing like they did under Abraham, Isaac & Jacob…Moses, King David and all the rest.
And, some, like THIS guy? Well, I doubt he has the character of that writing prof, regardless of his IQ or his supposed certifications…so what’s his latter end? Suffering them unchallenged and allowing all preaching & Bible to be corrupted & ghettoizing, soft, separated the wrong way ‘Christianity’ has resulted in this. But they’re all still without excuse. In the end we just have to trust God & stand, working out our own salvation with fear & trembling.
Truth & God’s word stand….and the Rock of our foundation is solid. Psalm 73 & 1 Corinthians 3 KJB. Those builders & sorcerers are going to regret rejecting that foundation & head of the corner. I think of millstones cast down with violence.
They are correct, but it is government misinformation. Know your parasites: Tick, flea, leech, mosquito, tapeworm, government.
.\\itch – Updated: http://crn.hopto.org/covid (add .pdf to get pdf version)
Why does Ray Comfort even live in California?
Because, by and large, Californians are not the brightest (needless to say). It gives him good content to film and make money. And as the old saying goes: “birds of the same feather flock together.”
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?