(Sharing 1/19/2026)Biweekly CHW message: What's New: Federal Food and Vaccine Guidance

What's New: Federal Food and Vaccine Guidance

Recently, HHS rolled out a new U.S. Food Pyramid and a new vaccine schedule. Both guidelines are mostly mainstream, with some caveats. Be cautious about some deviations from prior guidance. Change is good and necessary--when backed by science.

Food Pyramid: 

• Mainstream: Eat "real food" that is whole and minimally processed. Eat protein, whole grains, and healthy fats--and much less sugar. Avoid sugary drinks, fried foods, and low-fiber grains. Viva Health's 3 key tips still stand: 1) Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. 2) For portion control, use a smaller plate. 3) Drink water, not sugary beverages, 

• Controversies: There's a striking emphasis on full-fat dairy and more protein than most experts recommend, possibly reflecting some policymakers' ties to beef and dairy industries. Despite what you may have heard, beef tallow is mentioned only once -- and not in a starring role, but at the end of a list of "healthy fats."  OTOH: There's zero evidence that it's a healthy fat, and good reason to think otherwise.  

Childhood Vaccines: 

• Mainstream: Most prior recommendations still stand. That means measles (MMR) and HPV shots, both highly scrutinized by vaccine skeptics, are now officially re-endorsed by HHS. Importantly, insurance and programs for uninsured kids still cover the traditional schedule through at least the end of 2026.

• Controversies: Career CDC scientists were not consulted about making six vaccines optional. There's been no change in the science--in fact, a record number of U.S. children died of flu last year, and almost 90% were not vaccinated. We can expect more vaccine-preventable outbreaks in the future. Metro Health recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule.

• The Six Optional Vaccines: The federal government said some diseases are now less worrisome because they're rare. But respiratory infections are actually pretty common, and I would've liked HHS to acknowledge what made the others rare: our previously robust immunization infrastructure. The public health philosophy is that even healthy, "low-risk" people can be unknowingly exposed and suffer these consequences: 

• Hospitalization for winter respiratory viruses. By my lowball count, nearly 1 million people a year (mostly unvaccinated) are hospitalized for flu, RSV, and COVID.

• Severe dehydration and diarrhea in toddlers from rotavirus. This hospitalizes at least 10,000 children/year currently -- but before the vaccine, more than five times that.

• Liver disease from Hepatitis A and B. About 1,000 infants/year develop Hepatitis B alone. This could climb tenfold based on what we saw in the 1990s.

• Brain infections and limb amputations from meningococcal disease -- 500 cases in 2024, versus roughly 2,000/year before the vaccine. A UT Austin student's story

Spotlight: Immigration Law Help

Last fall, I shared the attached packet created by the YWCA. There was a significant typo--here is a corrected version.

Respiratory Infection Updates

Texas flu levels are still High, might be stabilizing. 

• Good Health Wins held two flu awareness calls this month. Here's their Jan. 8 slide deck and resources

• New CDC flyers: Prevent Respiratory Illness,   What to Do If You Feel Sick,   Testing and Treatment (only English so far)

• Data dashboards: CDC | Metro Health | DSHS | TexWEB wastewater | Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index | National wastewater 

Healthcare Navigation Resources of the Week

·                     5 Places to Get Reliable Health Info, attached, comes courtesy of Public Good Projects.

·                     Free and low-cost basic health screenings (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol) are available at H-E-B every Second Saturday (9 AM-2 PM) and twice a year at Walmart (the next one is Jan. 24, 10 AM-2 PM)

·                     NEW: Automatic Medicaid for newborns. If a newborn's mom had Medicaid, the baby would have Medicaid until their first birthday. Texas just updated Information for Parents of Newborns (English & Spanish) to reflect this change, which took effect Sept. 1, 2025.

·                     Community First Health Plan members may be eligible for an asthma kit, pillow cover, mattress protector, and gift cards for completing home visits with SA Kids BREATHE. Learn more

Upcoming Events and Opportunities  

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) starts Jan. 20 at most sites. Info. Tax refunds will be bigger this year because of a big bill Congress passed in 2025, so don't wait to file.

• Baptist Health Foundation Responsive Grants: Letters of Inquiry due Feb. 5

• For appointments with the women's health mobile unit at Impacto Comunitario, 211 N. Park Blvd. (78204), register here.

• Jan. 19, noon-3:30 PM, MLK March health fair including vaccines from Metro Health and UT Health, free STI testing and more, Davis-Scott YMCA and Pittman Sullivan Park, 1213 Iowa (78203). As always, transportation to the march is free on VIA. UT Health vaccine flyer

• Jan. 20, 6:30 PM-8 PM, NAMI virtual session on healing from grief. Info and registration

• Jan. 21 and 28, 10 AM-11:30 AM, Corazon Ministries mobile medical unit at the Central Library, 600 Soledad (78205). Info

• Jan. 21, 5:30 PM-7 PM, YWCA maternal health club to support anyone pregnant or parenting, WETC, 610 SW 41st St. (78237)

• Jan. 22, 9 AM-1 PM, mammograms at Coker United Methodist Church, 231 East North Loop Road (78216), no appointment needed. Contact Sonia Cavazos for details: scavazos@mhm.org 

• Jan. 22, 10 AM-11 AM, webinar on Piecing It Together: Trauma, Identity & Real-World Care, by the Institute for Trauma-Informed Care. Info and registration

• Jan. 22, noon-1 PM, National CHW Policy Working Group. Register for calendar invites

• Jan. 22, 1:30-3:30 PM,  free cardiac screenings for young athletes from AugustHeart, 4940 Broadway Suite #226 (78209). Register

• Jan. 22, 3 PM-4 PM, online QPR suicide prevention training from SACADA. Register

• Jan. 23, 9 AM-noon, Ventanillas de Salud women's mobile health bus, mammograms (call 210-704-4100 to schedule) and Habla con Tu Hermana repro health info, 127 Navarro St. (78205)

• Jan. 23 & 30, 12-3 PM, Yanawana Herbolarios People's Clinic, Maverick Park, 1000 Broadway (78215). More info

• Jan. 24, 8 AM-10 AM, Men's Mental Health Breakfast from Sinclairity Consulting, 10843 Gulfdale Street (78216). Details

• Jan. 24, 10 AM-2 PM, City housing resource fair, with produce bags for the first 150 attendees, Highlands High School Auditorium, 3118 Elgin Ave (78210). Info

• Jan. 24, 11 AM-3 PM, Metro Health vaccine pop-up clinic, Johnston Branch Library, 6307 Sun Valley Dr. (78227). Info

• Jan. 24, noon-4 PM, health fair with screenings, resources including for mental health, prizes, San Antonio Botanical Gardens, 555 Funston (78209). Limited info is available here.

• Jan. 25, 1 PM-4 PM, University Health Vida open house and health fair, 3611 Jaguar Parkway (78224). Info

• Jan. 26, 6 PM-8 PM, panel discussion on community heat mitigation, Mission Branch Library, 3134 Roosevelt Avenue (78214). Info

• Jan. 27-29, noon-1:30 PM, MD Anderson Cancer Center webinar series on eliminating cervical cancer: Vaccination on Jan. 27, Screening on Jan. 28, Treatment on Jan. 29. Register

• Jan. 27, 5 PM-6 PM, dementia basics for caregivers from UT Health, online. Register

• Jan. 27, 8 AM-1 PM, Choice Pantry sign-up until 9:30 AM, health class, WIC, and more at West Avenue Compassion, 10715 West Avenue (78213). Info

• Jan. 28, 1 PM-2 PM, Mujeres con Confianza plática on Endometriosis. United Way Eastside Family Resource Center, 215 Coca-Cola Pl, Suite 203 (78219). Register by Jan. 23 by contacting ldominguez@depelchin.org or calling 210-807-0037.

• Jan. 29, noon-1 PM, webinar: Understanding Congenital Syphilis in Newborns / Entendiendo la sífilis congénita en recién nacidos, Migrant Clinicians Network. Register

• Jan. 29, 3 PM-4 PM, Housing Policy 101 webinar from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Info and registration link.

• Jan. 29, 6 PM-7:30 PM, forum on mental health and homelessness, Corazon Day Hub, 504 Ave. E (78215). Info

• Jan. 30, 9 AM-1 PM, free mammograms at the YWCA, 503 Castroville Rd. (78237). Make an appointment at 210-433-9922 x212 or email amora@ywcasa.org or bgarcia@ywcsa.org.

• Jan. 31, 8 AM-2:30 PM, The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Community Health, UT Health Holly Auditorium, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr. (78229). Info and registration

• Jan. 31, 9 AM-noon, Brief Motivational Interviewing training from UT Health's Stacy Ogbeide, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr. (78229). Register

• Jan. 31, 10 AM-3 PM, 4^th annual Get Fit Wellness Fair, Moade Center, 329 E Ramsey Rd. (78216). Register

• Jan. 31, 1 PM-3 PM, DreamHour panel and community conversation on mental health, organized by WestCare, VelocityTexas, 1305 E. Houston (78205). Info

• Each week, Westcare puts out a packed, magazine-format roundup of upcoming community events—read it by clicking here. 

• San Antonio Compassion posts flyers for resources and upcoming events here.

Logistics—How Do I Get…  

VACCINES 

• Uninsured? For recommended childhood vaccines and some adult vaccines, click the green buttons on this page for Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net providers.

• Insured? The American Pharmacists Association offers this pharmacy map -- filter by walk-in vaccine access, handicap accessibility, hours of operation, and spoken languages. (No matter what the map says, it still helps to make an appointment.) There is never a co-pay or deductible for recommended vaccines.

• Homebound seniors: Medicare will pay a doctor or other care provider to give flu, COVID-19, Hepatitis B, and pneumococcal vaccines in the home, more info here.

• Everyone is still eligible for COVID vaccines this year, and they are still covered by insurance. Hate the side effects? Look for the non-mRNA formulation (the "protein vaccine" here). 

  • No prescription is required at the major national pharmacy chains.

  • For those without health insurance, this is the best discount coupon I've found ($89 as of December 2025)--still pricey, but cheaper than the treatment pills. 

  • If you are unable to get the vaccine, remember the old standbys of clean air, frequent handwashing, masking, staying away from others who are sick (and also when you're sick). More info

TESTING

• The federal program for free home tests has ended. Some health insurers still cover these.

• How to Use Home COVID and Flu Tests:

  • Lab tests are preferred for people with symptoms. If you are unable to obtain a lab test, then repeat your home COVID test every 48 hours for a total of at least two tests.

  • If any result is positive, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours—until your symptoms are getting better and you’ve haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours (without taking fever reducers). What to Do If You Feel Sick (CDC)

• Before throwing out an expired home test, see if the expiration date was extended by checking the Expiration Date column of the FDA’s List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.

TREATMENT 

• Medications must start quickly (within 5 days of symptoms for COVID, within just 2-3 days for the flu)—so don’t delay getting a test and a diagnosis. 

• If you are at risk for complications and need antiviral pills: Low-cost online visits are available. Some people are eligible for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturer. Learn more.