Katelyn Jetelina

Roe vs. Wade was overturned two weeks ago. Access deserts quickly popped up, as shown in red on the Kaiser Family Foundation figure below. This will only grow with time.

Although the Biden administration announced an executive order to protect access to reproductive health care services (including IUDs, interstate travel, data privacy, and legal services), it’s not clear how much rubber will hit the road. For example, it doesn’t fund interstate travel and doesn’t direct the Department of Justice to sue states that ban abortion pills.

Severely restricting access to care will (or already does) have a direct impact on the short- and long-term health of individuals seeking abortions and our broader community. It will be a public health disaster for decades to come.

Last week, I sat down with Robin Marty to discuss access, how it affects individuals and communities, and what we can do to help right now and in the long term. Robin is the Director of Operations at an abortion clinic in Alabama and author of Handbook for a Post-Roe America: The Complete Guide to Abortion Legality, Access, and Practical Support.

(Click link to access discussion.)

During our chat, multiple organizations were mentioned. Here are their direct links:

AidAccess.org (a group based in Austria that can mail the same abortion-inducing medication)

If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice (provides a confidential legal help line and defense fund)

Donate to clinics (if possible, make recurring donation rather than one-time)

Practical support assistance: Midwest Access Coalition (getting people to care) and Elevated Access (group of pilots flying people)

Brigid Alliance (volunteers in NY who provide homes for late-term abortions)

Here’s how to locate your closest local abortion clinic for support (email and be patient)

Love, YLE

In case you missed it:

Banning abortions will not stop abortions

Epidemiology of abortions

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, biostatistician, wife, and mom of two little girls. During the day she works at a nonpartisan health policy think tank, and at night she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members.