THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

NEXT WEEK, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES FOR AN ELECTION YEAR SESSION.

THERE WILL BE NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WHERE JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK TAKES CHARGE OF THE NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM.

HOW COULD THEIR AGENDA CHANGED LIVES OF MARYLANDERS.

WE TALKED WITH THE SPEAKER THIS WEEK.

MADAM SPEAKER HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, JEFF.

IT IS REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING THAT FOR MANY OF OUR VIEWERS YOU ARE A FAMILIAR FACE ALREADY BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING TO WHOM YOU NEED AN INTRODUCTION.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR PATH TO THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE?

>> SO I WAS BORN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

>> Jeff: I HAVE NOT.

>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND AND I AM BIASED BUT IT HAS A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL HUMBLE PEOPLE.

GOOD FOOD, GOOD MUSIC.

AND I GREW UP IN A HOUSE WITH MY GRANDS PARENTS.

THEY HAD 11 KIDS.

THEY HAD 13 BUT THREE, 11 SURVIVED.

AND WE LIVED IN A LITTLE WOODEN HOUSE, JEFF, THAT HAD CEMENT FLOOR AND THE ROOF WAS MADE OUT OF METAL.

IT HAD HOLES.

WHERE WHEN IT RAINED AND IN THE ISLANDS IT RAINS A LOT, WE WOULD RUN AND GET POTS TO CAPTURE THE RAIN DROPS.

MY -- OUR BATHROOM WAS A LATRINE, A LITTLE OUT HOUSE IN THE BACK, IT HAD A LITTLE HOLE AND WE OUR TOILET PAPER WAS CORN HUSK AND NEWSPAPER.

THAT IS HOW I GREW UP.

SOMETIMES WE DIDN'T HAVE A MEAL.

SO I GREW UP WITH A LOT OF POVERTY.

WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, MY MOM, MY SISTER AND I. WITH THE HOPE OF HELPING OUR FAMILIES IN THE DOUGH DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND GETTING AN EDUCATION.

MY MOM DIDN'T STUDY PAST THIRD GRADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

EDUCATION WAS IMPORTANT TO HER.

WE LANDED IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DOMINICANS IN THAT AREA AND THAT IS WHERE WE LIVED.

MY MOM WAS ON SOCIAL SERVICES FOR A WHILE.

WE RECEIVED MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMPS.

SHE WORKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT JOBS MANY DIFFERENT FACTORIES.

I USED TO GO TO THE WELFARE OFFICE WITH HER AND HELP TRANSLATE WITH THE LITTLE ENGLISH I KNEW.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANY ENGLISH WHEN I CAME HERE BUT I LEARNED ENGLISH BELIEVE IT OR NOT WATCHING SESAME STREET, Mr.

ROGERS, AND IN SCHOOL.

>> Jeff: ALWAYS GLAD TO HEAR THE SESAME STREET Mr.

ROGERS CONNECTION.

>> I LOVE SESAME STREET I DO.

IT'S HOW I GREW UP.

AND I LOVED LIVING IN NEW YORK WITH MY MOM.

MY PARENTS DIVORCED AND THEY DIVORCED WE STRUGGLED A LOT.

THINGS LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS GOT ROUGH FOR HER THINGS GOT ROUGH AND SHE SEPTEMBER US BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO BE WITH MY GRANDPARENTS AND WE USED TO WALK TO SCHOOL MORE THAN AN HOUR IN THE SUN IN THE ISLAND AROUND 12:30, 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND COME HOME AND THERE WAS NO FOOD.

SO THAT IS MY BACKGROUND, RIGHT?

SO AS I LEGISLATE THAT IS WHO I BRING WITH ME.

THOSE EXPERIENCES.

AND I AM EXCITED TO BE IN THIS ROLE TO REPRESENT ALL OF MARYLAND.

I DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU ARE FROM THE EASTERN SHORE, WESTERN MARYLAND, BALTIMORE CITY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY OR PRINCE GEORGE'S EVERYONE DESERVES RESPECT AND THOSE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERYONE RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY AFFORDABILITY.

SO I AM EXCITED.

>> Jeff: I SEE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT YOU'VE HAD THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE YOU HAVE REDECORATED A LITTLE BIT.

TELL ME ABOUT THE COLORFUL PAINTING OVER YOUR SHOULDER.

>> THANK YOU.

IT USED TO BE THE WALLS WERE LAVENDER COLOR.

I LIKE IT HAS TO BE BRIGHT FOR ME.

I CHOSE THE YELLOW.

AND THIS BEAUTIFUL PAINTING IS A TREE THAT HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT COLORS AND LITTLE DOTS AND THEY FALL IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT IT LOOKS CHAOTIC BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND THAT IS HOW MY LIFE IS.

AND THAT HOW PEOPLE ARE.

SO I LIKE IT.

IT INSPIRES ME AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, I THINK BACK TO ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THAT OFFICE THAT I'VE COVERED OVER THE DECADES AND THEY HAD ONE THING IN COMMON WHICH WAS RELATIVELY LOW KEY PERSON PATS AND -- PERSONALITIES IT IS NOT A CRITICISM THEY ARE BRIGHT WELL MEANING PEOPLE AND A LITTLE BIT ON THE QUIET SIDE AND I SUSPECT YOU ARE ABOUT TO BREAK THAT MOLD A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THOSE ARE AMAZING IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLACED MARYLAND ON THE MAP THAT YOU DESCRIBED.

I HOPE TO BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE.

AND ESPECIALLY SPEAKER JONES WHO REALLY WAS THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO BE ELECTED.

AND WAS A TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER.

I THINK I WILL BE DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE I COME FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

I THINK I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON.

WE CARE ABOUT MARYLAND.

WE WORK HARD.

BUT YOU MAY COME HERE AND LISTEN TO A LITTLE SALSA, MAYBE YOU COME AND YOU FIND A LITTLE RICE AND BEANS.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT I BRING IS JUST A DIFFERENT FLAVOR.

AND A LOT OF PASSION.

THAT'S THE ISLAND GIRL.

THERE IS A SAYING THAT SAYS YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE ISLAND BUT YOU CANNOT TAKE THE ISLAND OUT OF THE GIRL.

SO I AM A DIFFERENT PERSON.

>> Jeff: MAYBE A SPICIER SPEAKER, PERHAPS?

WE'LL SEE.

>> PERHAPS.

>> Jeff: WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR EARLY MOVES.

YOU'VE SHAKEN UP THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT AN ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE AND MOVING PEOPLE AROUND.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHANGES?

>> WHAT I DID I LOOKED AT THE COMMITTEES I HAVE BEEN HERE ALMOST 20 YEARS, I STARTED IN 2007.

AND I NOTICE THE COMMITTEES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, JEFF, WE HAD HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

WE HAVE ALL THE HOSPITALS, ALL THE HEALTH INSURANCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ALL THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ALL THE STATE GOVERNMENT BUT WE HAVE A.I., ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THERE WAS NOT AROUND 25 YEARS AGO.

AND WE HAVE PROCUREMENT RULES AS WELL.

I WANTED TO CREATE A COMMITTEE WHERE I CAN TAKE THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND JUST FOCUS ON HEALTH.

BUT THEN I ALSO WENT TO ECONOMIC MATTERS.

AND I LOOKED AT IT AND I DECIDED THAT THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY NEEDED TO BE PLACED WITH THE COMMITTEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS COMMITTEE.

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HAVE THE DISCUSSION OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

SO I TOOK ALL THE DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS THAT HAD REGULATIONS AND MADE SORT OF A REGULATORY COMMITTEE.

AND THAT IS THE SEVENTH COMMITTEE THAT I CREATED.

IT ALSO ALLOWED FOR THE COMMITTEES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO BE SMALLER.

OUR MEMBERS ARE SOME YOUNG MEMBERS THEY HAVE YOUNG KIDS AND HAVE FAMILIES AND WE'RE HERE SOMETIMES TO ONE, TWO IN THE MORNING.

I WAS TRYING TO CREATE A WORK BALANCE FOR MY MEMBERS.

SO I'M EXCITED.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY IT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.

>> Jeff: LET ME PICK UP ON APPROPRIATIONS THEN.

WE HAVE A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, AGAIN, A FORECAST 1.5 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT WE HAVE LEARNED A NEW ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN MARYLAND, ABOUT 25,000 PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN ELECTION YEAR WHEN TYPICALLY TAXES DON'T GO UP.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE SOLUTION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR?

>> SO TAXES ARE NOT ON THE TABLE.

WE'LL START THERE.

WE NEED TO, AS YOU KNOW, MARYLAND IS A STATE THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTED THE MOST BECAUSE WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE GET A LOT OF FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALSO WE HAVE LOST 25,000 PEOPLE IN OCTOBER IT WAS THE MONTH WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY LOST THEIR FEDERAL JOBS, 10300.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AT THAT TIME OTHER STATES DO NOT HAVE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE VERY COMMITTED PEOPLE AND SMART PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO BE CIVIL AND SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT HOW CAN WE BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR THE TAXPAYERS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THE GAPS.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND MAKE SOME CUTS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

AS YOU KNOW WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE -- WE ARE REQUIRED BY OUR CONSTITUTION TO ADJOURN WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

IS IT GOING TO BE EASY?

NO.

ARE WE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND WORK?

YES.

BEFORE I CAME HERE, I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WORKED ON AND DEVELOPED WITH SENATE PRESIDENT AND WITH THE GOVERNOR.

AND I AM HOPING TO USE SOME OF THAT CAPITAL SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE CIVIL CONVERSATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS.

AND WE HAVE SMART PEOPLE DELEGATE BARNS CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HAS BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR YEARS.

VERY SMART.

AND MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER.

IN THE SENATE IS VERY SMART AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Jeff: WELL, THAT BRINGS US TO THE QUESTION OF CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SPEAKER JONES WANTED TO SEE DONE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS IN FAVOR.

THE LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE WAS NOT.

IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IT'S GOT TO HAPPEN QUICKLY IN THE NEW SESSION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

>> SO PRESENTLY, THE GOVERNOR'S REDISTRICTING COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED 21 MAPS.

THEY MEET TOMORROW.

THEY ARE MEETING NEXT WEEK AS WELL.

AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO I'M WAITING FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN I'M ALSO SITTING DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT.

>> Jeff: THE LYNCHING RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ORIGINAL SPONSOR OF THAT BILL.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

>> THEY HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.

I JUST SPOKE TO THE CHAIRMAN ACTUALLY JUST LAST WEEK.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A BRIEFING TO THE CAUCUSES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND THEY WILL BE REVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'LL SEE WHAT ARE THE LOW HANGING FRUITS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT DO NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS A REPORT IN THE BANNER ABOUT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION LOOKING INTO MARYLAND'S EMERGENCY ROOM DELAYS.

AND OF COURSE, YOU USED TO CHAIR THE COMMISSION DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES.

AND THE NEWS REPORT INDICATED THE COMMISSION WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DUD.

BUT WE HAE A LOT OF MARYLANDERS PILED UP WAITING IN EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR TREATMENT FOR THE FLU AND OTHER ISSUES.

IS THERE ANYTHING THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO THAT WOULD MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THAT ISSUE ON THE HEALTH OF MARYLANDERS?

>> SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT.

BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THAT MYSELF GOING TO THE ER.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HRC WAS TASKED WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO FIND SOLUTIONS THEY HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR TWO YEARS.

E-MAILS WHERE PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

THEY WERE EXPECTING THE REPORT SHORTLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

I HAVE ALREADY, JEFF, REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE HRC AND TWO ER DOCTORS THAT HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE IT, HOW TO MANAGE THE FLOW.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT MODELS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO MOVE PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE WAITING AND I AM GOING TO HAVE THAT MEETING AND I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE REPORT.

WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THIS SESSION.

HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT WAS MY BABY, IS MY BABY.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO LET IT GO.

THERE IS AN AMAZING LEADER THAT IS NOW DELEGATE HEATHER BAG NELL FROM ANNE ARUNDEL WHO IS JUST A SUPERSTAR AND SHE WILL TAKE IT AND DO REALLY WELL WITH THE DELEGATE ANOTHER SUPERSTAR BUT I'M GOING TO PUT MY TWO CENTS INTO THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

>> Jeff: SPEAKER JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK JOINING US FROM HER REDECORATED OFFICE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE AND YOUR TIME AS WELL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW, OUR NEWSMAKER IS MARYLAND'S HEALTH SECRETARY SDR MEENA SESHAMANI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

>> Jeff: THIS WEEK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDED CHILDHOOD VACCINES.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS?

>> WELL, JEFF, I WILL SAY THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER WITH THIS UNCERTAINTY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, EVIDENCE-BASED DATA WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR NORTH STAR HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINES REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHY AND SAFE FROM DISEASE.

SO THE MOORE ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN SEVERAL ACTIONS ALREADY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET A VACCINE CAN GET A VACCINE.

AND WE ARE NOW ALSO RELEASING A PROPOSAL THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON IN THIS UP COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WOULD GIVE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH THE AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND THE VACCINES THAT WILL HAVE INSURANCE PROVIDERS REQUIRED TO COVER THEM.

>> Jeff: THE C.D.C.

ARGUES THAT NATIONS LIKE DENMARK ONLY VACCINATE AGAINST 10 DISEASES AND WE VACCINATE AGAINST 18.

ANYTHING TO THAT ARGUMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO LOOK AT WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE UNITED STATES IN OUR COUNTRY.

LEADING MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY THEY HAVE REVIEWED DECADES OF DATA AND RESEARCH DONE ON OUR POPULATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY IN THIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

AND THUS, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT THE GOVERNOR IS PUTTING FORWARD WOULD ENABLE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO BE ABLE TO LOOK TO THOSE EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES FROM THOSE LEADING MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH FEDERAL AND STATE ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH VACCINES NEED TO HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE.

>> Jeff: SO WHERE DO THINGS STAND TODAY IF A PARENT IS WATCHING A GRANDPARENT IS WATCHING AND THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO HAVE THE CURRENT STANDARD VACCINES.

DO THEY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING SPECIAL OR IT DEPENDS ON THE DOCTOR?

WHAT IS THE SITUATION ABSENT THE LEGISLATION YOU ARE PROPOSING?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET THE VACCINES THAT THEY NEED.

AND IN FACT, WE HAVE INCREASED PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GET AN ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES.

FOR EXAMPLE WE ROLLED OUT A NEW PROGRAM IN MARYLAND CALLED THE MARYLAND VACCINE PROGRAM.

THAT PROVIDES FREE VACCINES AT OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR UNINSURED AND UNDER INSURED ADULTS.

SO THE KEY AT THAT TIME I WOULD SAY IS TO FAMILIES OUT THERE TO PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OUT THERE, I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE A CONFUSING TIME RIGHT NOW.

WE REMAIN A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR YOU BASED ON SCIENCE.

THAT ALONGSIDE TALKING TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, YOU CAN DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEED TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

>> Jeff: WOULD THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO MANDATE CERTAIN VACCINES?

SOME OF THE ONES THAT HAD BEEN ON THE C.D.C.

LIST AND ARE NOW IN THE OPTIONAL OR WILL BE IN THE OPTIONAL CATEGORY WOULD BE THE FLU SHOT FOR EXAMPLE OR THE COVID VACCINE?

>> WELL, IMPORTANTLY WHAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES, IS IT WOULD ENSURE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO CONTINUE TO COVER THESE VACCINES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.

IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A LAW THAT MADE INSURANCE PROVIDERS REQUIRED THEM TO COVER VACCINES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE C.D.C.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES.

SO IT KIND OF FROZE IN TIME WHAT INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR TO TRY TO PROTECT AGAINST ANY BACKSLIDING IN TERMS OF WHAT VACCINES WOULD BE COVERED BY INSURANCE.

NOW, WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WOULD DO, WOULD ENABLE MOVING FORWARD, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE NEW EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES TO BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED SO YOU DON'T CONTINUE TO BE FROZEN IN TIME OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 BUT WE CAN UTILIZE THE GUIDELINES OF LEADING MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS, THAT ARE BASED ON DECADES OF SCIENCE TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT VACCINES INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO PAY FOR.

>> Jeff: AS YOU KNOW, PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS HATE SEEING SOMEBODY GIVE A BIG NEEDLE TO A LITTLE ARM OR A LITTLE LEG.

ARE PEOPLE FOR THAT REASON ALONE, MAYBE PREDISPOSED TO THINKING THE KID'S HAD ENOUGH SHOTS?

>> I THINK WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET INFORMATION IN A CLEAR WAY THAT CAN HELP GUIDE THEIR DECISION MAKING AND THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, THEIR DOCTOR, THEIR NURSE, TO BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN MYSELF.

I REMEMBER MY KIDS GETTING THOSE SHOTS IN THEIR CHUBBY THIGHS WHEN THEY WERE A BABY.

AND AS A DOCTOR, I HAVE ALSO SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWN WITH ILLNESSES LIKE IN MY CASE I AM AN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DOCTOR I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF PEOPLE WITH WHOOPING COUGH WHICH IS PREVENTIBLE WITH VACCINES.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP OURSELVES HEALTHY AND TO KEEP OUR LOVED ONES AROUND US AND OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHY, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HAVE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND THAT THEY CAN TURN TO TRUSTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION LIKE THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THEM.

>> Jeff: RELATED TO THE VACCINATION STORY WE HAVE HAVING A BIG FLU SEASON THIS YEAR.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE OVERWHELMED.

ANY ROLE FOR THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THAT?

ANY ADVICE YOU WANT TO OFFER MARYLAND RESIDENTS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WE ARE IN AN EARLY SPIKE IN THE FLU SEASON.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET VACCINATED FOR THE FLU.

THE STRAINS OF THE FLU THAT ARE CIRCULATING IN MARYLAND ARE COVERED BY THE VACCINE.

AND IF YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE FLU, YOU SHOULD STILL GET VACCINATED BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER STRAINS ASIDE FROM THE ONE THAT YOU GOT, THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THE VACCINE AND THAT CAN HELP YOU PROTECT YOU FROM GETTING VERY SICK FROM IT.

BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, JEFF, PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK AND GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIED AS WELL.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FREE FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE AT OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

YOU CAN GO TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE PHARMACY.

MARYLAND IS ONE OF THE STATES WHERE PHARMACISTS CAN PROVIDE FLU AND COVID VACCINES TO PEOPLE AGED THREE AND OLDER.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY PROTECT NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR LOVED ONES BECAUSE THESE ARE CONTAGIOUS.

>> Jeff: IF PEOPLE ARE READING IN THE NEWS THIS YEAR'S FLU VACCINE WAS NOT A GOOD MATCH FOR THE FLU A VARIANT THAT IS GOING AROUND, HOW SHOULD THEY THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT OUR LAB STUDIES ARE, IN FACT, SHOWING THE FLU STRAINS ARE COVERED BY THE VACCINE.

AND IMPORTANTLY, THE VACCINE CAN ALTOGETHER PREVENT THE FLU.

AND ALSO, IF YOU GET THE FLU IT CAN MAKE IT LESS SEVERE.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE FLU CAN GET PEOPLE VERY SICK AND CAN LEAD TO DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET VACCINATED FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR LOVED ONES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GO AND TALK TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT IMPORTANT DECISIONS LIKE THESE.

>> Jeff: Dr.

MEENA SESHAMANI JOINING US FROM THE MARYLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVERY WEEK FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND'S POLITICAL STAGE.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THROUGH THE FREE PBS APP AND WE CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE ARE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS THAT IS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]