The cuts to federal funding by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have exacerbated an existing budget crisis in Austin, jeopardizing services offered by the Austin Public Health (APH). The city's health officials, represented by AFSCME Local 1624, have urged the City Council to address a $22 million shortfall. This funding gap threatens essential vaccinations, crucial in light of ongoing outbreaks of diseases such as measles and bird flu. Many Austinites depend on APH for these services due to lack of insurance, making the situation dire for community health and safety.
We no longer have the enhanced infrastructure to quickly act during an outbreak of an infectious disease, such as the measles outbreak occurring just a few counties over in West Texas. The recent federal funding cuts have made our communities weaker, less safe and decreased Austin Public Health's ability to respond effectively to current and future threats.
If you and I are fortunate enough to have adequate health insurance and need a vaccine, we simply call our doctor, make an appointment and go get the vaccine. This is not the case for thousands of Austinites who are uninsured or underinsured; they rely on Austin Public Health to receive life-saving vaccination services. The vaccine safety net provides protection, not only for people who receive injections but for the community as a whole.
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