Bits 'n' Pieces

Pediatrics Vaccine Update

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reaffirmed its support for the childhood immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and continues to follow California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance, which aligns with AAP. There are no changes to vaccine schedules or availability in Long Beach at this time.

This reaffirmation follows recent changes announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would reduce the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children. These changes were made without input from subject matter experts and are not based on new scientific evidence.

The Long Beach Health Department joins the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), CDPH and other public health leaders in emphasizing that the AAP immunization schedule is built on decades of scientific research, ongoing safety monitoring and real-world public health data. It reflects when children are most vulnerable to disease, how vaccines interact with their immune systems and current access to care. These recommendations are proven to reduce preventable illness, missed school days, missed work for families and hospitalizations.

Changing vaccine recommendations without a transparent, evidence-based process can cause confusion, reduce public confidence and create new barriers for families and providers. These shifts may increase the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and place unnecessary burdens on communities already facing disparities in health access.

National public health organizations, including the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Trust for America’s Health and the Big Cities Health Coalition, have also raised concerns that these changes, which were in part based on comparisons to other countries’ vaccine schedules, could disrupt long-standing protections for children. Comparing U.S. vaccine schedules to other countries without accounting for differences in disease risk, infrastructure and access to care is misleading and not a sound basis for public health decisions.

The Long Beach Health Department remains committed to science-based practices that protect the health and safety of children and families. People with questions about vaccination schedules should contact their health care provider. For local immunization resources, visit longbeach.gov/immunizations.

Police Academy Re-Opens

The City of Long Beach recently celebrated the grand opening of its Police Academy following a comprehensive infrastructure build out to enhance the facility and overall experience for police recruits, staff and visitors. The event marked a key milestone in the city’s commitment to enhancing public safety, improving access to city resources and modernizing critical infrastructure.

The LBPD has a proud history of training police recruits, with formalized training dating back to the 1940s. Prior to this construction project, the Police Academy had been using modular trailers, which served as classrooms, offices and locker rooms since 1997. Almost 27 years later, these temporary structures were at the end of their usable lifespan and plans were developed to transform this facility into a modern, state-of-the-art training center.

The Long Beach City Council approved funding for the project in September 2023 and construction began in January 2024. This project included the replacement of the dated modular buildings, construction of a new locker room, renovations to existing structures and sitewide improvements. Enhancements include a recruit classroom that will accommodate larger academy class sizes, expanding the Department’s capacity to train police recruits; an enhanced training classroom for the Advanced Officer Training Cadre where police officers participate in ongoing training and professional development; an updated gym and mat room for training related to defensive tactics and arrest control techniques; and updated administrative offices for Training and Tactical Support Division personnel. The new Police Academy also received upgrades to paving, landscaping and irrigation, sewer and water lines and external lighting, as well as accessibility upgrades that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

This project will meet the LBPD’s current and future training needs, facilitating the training of new police recruits and the ongoing training of current police officers and serving as a regional hub for law enforcement training. With upcoming large-scale events of international significance in the region, such as the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, the LBPD will be able leverage the updated academy space to prepare and train officers to meet the unique safety needs of these historic events.

“Our new Police Academy represents our commitment to providing the highest level of training needed to develop the next generation of law enforcement leaders,” said Chief of Police Wally Hebeish. “LBPD Academy Class #100, our largest police academy class ever, will soon have the distinct privilege of being the first class to utilize this state-of-the-art training facility. I am proud to celebrate this milestone and excited about the future of our police department.”

The project is funded with $25.6 million from Measure A, $5.5 million in General Capital and $2 million in Police Impact Fees funds. A second phase of the project will begin this year and will include environmental remediation, construction of a new obstacle training course for administration of physical agilities tests, and installation of prefabricated structures for search tactics training, chemical agent exposure training and other scenario-based instruction.

Ireland Olympic House

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has selected Long Beach to establish Ireland’s Team Hospitality House for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. With a large Irish-American community, a bustling Downtown tourism and entertainment district and a central location to the 2028 Games, Long Beach will serve as a prime location for the Team Ireland House, which plans to bring a dynamic, entertaining and culturally significant Games fan experience to the city.

Team Ireland House will be located at Ovation Square event space on Pine Avenue in Downtown Long Beach spanning the duration of the 2028 Olympic Games. The Irish House plans to deliver a wide variety of cultural programming, events and showcases, live entertainment, athlete and family gatherings, sponsor activations, retail and exhibition experiences and more. The Olympic Federation of Ireland will also host youth engagement opportunities through its Dare to Believe program, which aims to inspire young people through an interactive curriculum that explores and brings Olympics values to life. More information about the Team Ireland House will be shared as the 2028 Games approach. Once plans for activities and events become more solidified, they will be reviewed and finalized pending the approval of applicable permits.

“The Ireland Team House will transform the 2028 Games from something people simply watch into something they truly experience,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “This will be a dynamic gathering place where residents, families, visitors and athletes come together to celebrate culture, build community and feel connected to something global, right in the heart of Downtown Long Beach. It represents the kind of bold, inclusive vision that elevates our entire city.”

With Ireland’s announcement, Long Beach has made history as the first city in the region to secure three confirmed National Hospitality Houses for the 2028 Games. This comes shortly after becoming the first city to secure two, with Long Beach recently selected by the Hellenic Olympic Committee as the location for Greece’s first-ever Team House at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, as well as by the National Olympic Committee of Denmark as the location for the official House of Denmark at the Westin Long Beach.

“Long Beach continues to prepare for the 2028 Games with intentionality, vision and a clear focus on delivering experiences that are both world-class and deeply rooted in our community,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “Team Houses are a key part of that approach – and with the Irish Team House, they are bringing a thoughtfully planned space that supports international partners while activating our city in ways that create connection, visibility and lasting value for residents.”

This announcement also marks the first confirmed activation of local business space as part of the city’s online interest form for property owners interested in renting out their spaces to games stakeholders. Long Beach continues to be a sought-after destination by National Olympic Committees (NOC), National Paralympic Committees (NPC) and other stakeholders to activate space for the 2028 Games.

Team Houses are temporary hospitality venues set up by a country’s NOC or NPC to serve as special event and gathering spaces, most often used to celebrate national culture and host a variety of unique public and private special event opportunities.

Local businesses and property owners interested in renting out their space are encouraged to submit the online interest form to get connected with Games stakeholders interested in activating space in Long Beach.

Hosted by the City of Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympic Games will take place July 14 through July 30, 2028, and the 2028 Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 15 through Aug. 27, 2028. Long Beach will serve as a 2028 Venue City set to stage the largest number of sporting events outside of the Host City of Los Angeles, staging 11 sporting events for the Olympic Games and seven for the Paralympic Games.

More information about Long Beach’s commitment to the LA28 Games is available at longbeach.gov/2028Games.

Team Name Unveiled

The Long Beach Baseball Club (LBBC) announced the official name of Long Beach’s new professional baseball team: the Long Beach Coast (LBC). The team’s alter ego will be the Long Beach Regulators.

“The Long Beach Coast and the Long Beach Regulators - a core identity paired with an alter ego, gives us room to explore different aesthetics and push the boundaries of what a baseball brand can look and feel like,” said Ena Patel, president of Long Beach Baseball Club. “We want to build a brand where anyone in Long Beach can see themselves in it – who doesn’t have a little bit of an alter ego or super hero in them?”

The name emerged from an extensive community engagement process that generated 4,862 total votes, including online participation from 34 states and in-person voting at locations across the city. Throughout the process, the team met residents where they live – from libraries and neighborhood businesses to the airport and local gathering spots – reinforcing the club’s commitment to building a team with Long Beach, not just for it.

The club’s visual identity was crafted by Francisco Reyes (Never Made), a respected designer with deep Long Beach roots, adding an authentic local voice and credibility to the brand.

Groundbreaking Treatment

MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute has launched the FDA-approved Symplicity Renal Denervation (RDN) procedure, a groundbreaking, minimally invasive treatment now available at Long Beach Medical Center, Orange Coast Medical Center, and Saddleback Medical Center. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 17–20% of Americans with hypertension – about 10 million people – have resistant hypertension, where blood pressure remains high despite multiple medications. The procedure can reduce major cardiovascular events by 20%, stroke by 27%, and heart failure by 28% in patients with resistant hypertension.

“This procedure offers a new pathway for patients who haven’t found success with traditional treatments,” says David Shavelle, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, chief of cardiology, MemorialCare. “It’s a safe, effective option that works in harmony with existing care plans to help patients achieve better blood pressure control. We’re proud to bring this innovative therapy to our communities and help patients regain control and peace of mind.”

High blood pressure affects nearly half of U.S. adults and is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. While many individuals are able to manage their blood pressure with medications and lifestyle adjustments, an estimated 17–20% of patients experience resistant hypertension, a condition in which blood pressure remains high despite taking three or more antihypertensive medications.

Resistant hypertension is more common among certain populations, including older adults, Black patients and individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and obesity. Black adults are nearly 50% more likely to develop resistant hypertension compared to white adults. These groups face a significantly higher risk of stroke, heart failure and major cardiovascular events, making innovative treatments like renal denervation especially critical.

The procedure works by delivering targeted radiofrequency energy to overactive nerves surrounding the renal arteries – nerves that contribute to elevated blood pressure – helping the body naturally regulate blood pressure. Clinical trial data from Medtronic shows that a 10-mmHg reduction in office systolic blood pressure can reduce major cardiovascular events by 20%, stroke by 27%, and heart failure by 28% in patients with resistant hypertension. According to the American Heart Association, resistant hypertension increases cardiovascular mortality by up to 56% compared to controlled hypertension, making this advancement a critical option for patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite medication and lifestyle changes.

“Clinical studies have shown that renal denervation can significantly lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, support long-term blood pressure stability, and reduce the need for multiple medications,” says Dr. Shavelle. “This minimally invasive procedure complements existing treatment plans and offers a safe, effective option for patients who cannot tolerate certain blood pressure medications.”

The Symplicity Spyral RDN system, developed by Medtronic, is a minimally invasive therapy that uses a thin, flexible catheter to deliver targeted radiofrequency energy to overactive nerves surrounding the renal arteries – nerves that disrupt communication between the kidneys and the brain and contribute to elevated blood pressure. Through a small incision near the upper leg or groin, the catheter is guided to the renal arteries, where energy is applied to specific spots along the artery wall. This calms the nerves without damaging the artery, allowing the body to naturally regulate blood pressure. The treatment typically takes about an hour, and most patients return home the same day or after a short observation period, without the need for surgery or permanent implants.

MemorialCare’s launch of the renal denervation blood pressure procedure reflects its commitment to offering advanced cardiovascular care. The system-wide implementation is part of a broader strategy to expand access to innovative therapies and improve outcomes for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions.

To learn more visit memorialcare.org/Heart or call (855) 858-3618.