New Immunization Branch Chief

The Immunization Branch is pleased to announce that John Talarico, D.O., M.P.H., has assumed the role of Branch Chief. Earlier this year, Dr. Talarico served as Interim Branch Chief and previously held the position of Chief of the Branch’s Pandemic Influenza Planning Section. Immediately before accepting the Immunization Branch Chief position, Dr. Talarico served as Chief of Emergency Preparedness Planning, Policy and Coordination in the Center for Infectious Disease. 

Before coming to CDPH, Dr. Talarico worked for the state of New York and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. He has extensive experience in public health, child and adolescent health programs, immunizations, and emergency preparedness.  Please join us in welcoming Dr. Talarico back to the Immunization Branch in his new leadership role.

New Preparedness and Response Branch

In September, CDPH leadership announced the creation of a new Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch (ID-EPRB), under the Division of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC). The ID-EPRB has become the new home to the Immunization Branch’s former Pandemic Planning Section staff who now serve under Dr. Bela Matyas, Interim Branch Chief of the ID-EPRB.

The new Branch was created to enhance CDPH’s response capacity to the ongoing H1N1 influenza pandemic and other infectious disease emergencies by consolidating non-laboratory emergency preparedness staff. ID-EPRB will ensure:

• Statewide readiness to respond to an infectious disease (ID) emergency
• Readiness of CDPH’s Center for Infectious Disease (CID) and DCDC staff
• Capability of CDPH to detect an ID emergency
• Surveillance capabilities to monitor status of an ID emergency
• Implementation of an appropriate and effective public health response to ID threats
• Necessary investigation, containment, and mitigation of ID threats
• Appropriate management of Emergency Preparedness funds and resources