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People's CDC
@peoplescdc.org
1.8K followers 4 following 274 posts
A CDC watchdog and public health advocacy and health justice group. peoplescdc.org Vaccine Comment Template: peoplescdc.substack.com/p/vaccine-a…
![PCDC asks "For people outside of NYC looking to advocate for the strengthening or the start of a free clinic system, a free condom program, gender affirming care or a free KN95 mask program in their areas, what should their first step be?"
ACT UP New York responds "[Start] with building relationships in all levels of government from your city council person to your state legislators. From there you pay attention to the budget [...]. However, this is not just about political organizing, but engaging communities who are in-need of healthcare with on-the-ground resources to promote public health.
For instance, ACT UP NY organizes the Health Fair each and every Pride month since 2021 to bring PPE, testing, and healthcare consultation to the people!"
The website peoplescdc.org is in the bottom right corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sj3dgbarvvbzx5hmu3sloljc/bafkreibdsyd3d4btddgv7vurncguf3jwgumd6iyvvtaxd336obquodvswi)
![This is part two of ACT UP's answer to the question "What is your free clinics advocacy campaign?"
ACT UP New York continues "For decades, the city has operated free sexual health clinics across the city [...]. The problem of clinic overcrowding is so bad that clinics can start turning walk-ins away earlier than [their 3:30pm closing time] because the line is too long and they would never be seen by close.
Perhaps the most diabolical aspect of the 3:30pm closing time is that clinics close right as high schools are ending their day, so students have little chance of walking in at a clinic outside of their school hours. Under 18 young people are a sexually active, high risk population that we want to reach with counseling and treatment, and DOHMH has essentially forgotten them!"
The website peoplescdc.org is in the bottom right corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sj3dgbarvvbzx5hmu3sloljc/bafkreiastb5tpymx3tw2geiaqipb2b6ntt5nb3ypdromhld6zo7xllwm2q)
![PCDC asks "What goals is your free clinics advocacy campaign trying to accomplish?"
ACT UP New York answers "We are tired of the reduced hours, early closures and reduced geographic coverage at the Sexual Health Clinics. Eight million people cannot share 6 clinics. We are tired of the wind down of free COVID/Flu/RSV PCR testing and treatment services while the Flu and RSV still spread seasonally and while COVID still spreads year-round.
We are tired of DOHMH pitting one type of care against another and asking its constituents to choose who is able to receive care and for what ailment.
Revoking any service that once existed while that virus is still spreading is segregating the option to be treated away from those who have less money [...]."
The website peoplescdc.org is in the bottom right corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sj3dgbarvvbzx5hmu3sloljc/bafkreig5lk6p3ylesdmtf4yl3u4rfmpq5qzrncu3qun4n6xxr7skjo2wrm)
![PCDC asks "Since the founding of the NYC free condom program, have you had to do any maintenance advocacy to keep it alive?"
ACT UP New York answers "In 2023, after businesses had reopened and were seeing more patrons, we started hearing from bar staff that the condom program had not resumed and that the web portal used to order more safer sex products was broken.
We essentially pleaded with [DOHMH] how important condoms are to the LGBTQ+ community that is most at-risk for HIV, MPOX and other STDs, especially low-income people without regular access to healthcare. It was a bizarre dynamic for us as community members to have to explain to DOHMH staff how much the free condom program means to the community and HIV prevention."
The website peoplescdc.org is in the bottom right corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sj3dgbarvvbzx5hmu3sloljc/bafkreiesib7yxa6o747po7zxjehwnu5ca53xzgcufl62wbxg7qljjh4gs4)
![White text reads: "The first interview of this type is with ACT UP New York and it is released in June of 2026 in honor of New York and National Pride Month."
In the center of the page is the black and white logo for ACT UP, which is the acronym for the AIDS coalition to unleash power.
The website peoplescdc.org is in the bottom right corner.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sj3dgbarvvbzx5hmu3sloljc/bafkreicp22k7rj4aut7zbfuqodv3um26twxpjz2trljh5vxkq6d7isbmii)
