Public Health Review Morning Edition

On today's 'Best Of PHRME' episode, ASTHO revisits an interview with Dan Edney, ASTHO member and state health officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, who explains what the state is doing to meet the public health needs of rural communities across the state. This episode also features a segment with Shirley Orr, executive director of the Association of Public Health Nurses and lead speaker for ASTHO's Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series, who discusses what motivates nurses to enter the public health field. The fifth and final webinar in the series is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. ET. ASTHO Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab Sustaining Accreditation Through Smart Documentation Systems

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO's Chief Medical Officer, reacts to President Biden's new COVID-19 strategy; Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia's Health Commissioner, discusses the network ready to administer COVID-19 booster shots; Robin Matthies, ASTHO's Director of Social and Behavioral Health, explains a new resource to help states and territories communicate suicide and overdose risk and protective factors; and we share information about a webinar for health teams looking for ideas to improve their COVID-19 outreach to their communities. White House: Path out of the Pandemic  ASTHO's Statement in response to the President's plan ASTHO Infographic: Creating a shared approach to suicide and overdose prevention Webpage: World Suicide Prevention Day ASTHO Resource: The youth mental health crisis: States invest in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies Webpage: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ASTHO Event: APPLETREE COVID-19 supplemental project presentations part 2

Win Rawls, ASTHO's Director of Preparedness and Evaluation, explains the increased demand for interstate emergency help among states and territories and the impact on the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC); Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health, Washington state, shares his approach to crisis messaging; ASTHO releases a new article reporting on the bold steps states and territories have taken to address youth mental health needs; and we have one final reminder to sign up for today's ASTHO event exploring preparedness lessons two decades after 9/11. Webpage: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) The youth mental health crisis: States invest in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies Event: Two decades after 9/11

Booker Daniels, with the CDC's Division of Public Affairs, details a new online resource to help public health professionals improve their inclusive communication skills; Kerry Wyss, ASTHO's Director of Environmental Health, shares information about several guides created to help states and territories communicate with residential building owners and operators, and homeowners, about how to prevent Legionnaires' Disease in their drinking water; we highlight three ASTHO job opportunities; and provide a final reminder about the 9/11 preparedness event planned for Thursday, September 9th. CDC Webpage: Health equity guiding principles for inclusive communication ASTHO Report: Water safety ASTHO: Legionella communications fact sheet ASTHO Report: Digging deeper into Legionnaires' disease guidance needs for state and territorial health agencies ASTHO: Job opportunities Event: Two decades after 9/11  

Lisa Peterson, ASTHO's Director of Health and Homeland Security, reviews plans for Thursday's event to examine preparedness twenty years after 9/11; and Dr. Pritesh Gandhi, Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Dr. Erica Pan, the State Epidemiologist for the State of California and deputy director for its Center for Infectious Diseases, discuss the importance of strong relationships among agencies responding to a crisis. Event: Two decades after 9/11

State health officials held a virtual news conference with journalists Thursday to address the latest in the public health response to COVID-19. Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President-Elect and Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska; and Dr. Thomas Dobbs, State Health Officer for the State of Mississippi, discuss vaccines, the Delta variant, and the impact of cases on hospitals and health care workers. YouTube: ASTHO Media Briefing Event: Two decades after 9/11

Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama's State Health Officer, urges residents to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus; Meredith Allen, ASTHO's Vice President of Health Security, tells states and territories five things they need to know about the FDA's full approval of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine; and Daniel E. Dawes, Director of the Satcher Health leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, explains what applicants can expect if they apply for the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) program. News Conference: Dr. Scott Harris (SHO-Alabama) Blog Article: FDA's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: Five things to know Webpage: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health

Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi's State Health Officer, questions vaccine misinformation; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO's Chief Medical Officer, discusses vaccine safety on KNX NewsRadio, Los Angeles; Rhea Farberman, Director of Strategic Communications and Policy Research at the Trust for America's Health, shares new messaging and tools to explain the FDA's full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; and ASTHO wins awards for its work to support members. State health officials: A sixth Mississippi child dies of COVID-19 Webpage: Resource – FDA approval messaging and outreach tools Fact sheet: Communicating about FDA approval to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines ASTHO's efforts supporting state and territorial health leaders recognized with four national awards

Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont's Commissioner of Health, outlines steps states and territories can take to address the alarming rise in the number of overdose deaths in the United States; Luke Tomsha, founder of The Perfectly Flawed Foundation, tells ASTHO members how they can help connect with those who know the most about overdose; ASTHO plans an event to examine preparedness lessons two decades after 9/11; and registration is open for an online COVID-19 bootcamp to boost your crisis leadership skills. Website: International Overdose Awareness Day Website: The Perfectly Flawed Foundation Event: Two decades after 9/11 Learning: How to be prepared to serve during COVID-19  

Dr. Kristina Angelo, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC, tells ASTHO members how they can help get the word out about the revised recommendations for domestic travelers; Cassandra Thompson, ASTHO's Director of Preparedness and Disability Integration, offers tips for states and territories considering in-home vaccination programs; ASTHO and the CDC announce grants to four states working to improve pregnancy health data; and a new partnership intended to help government agencies hire staff. CDC Webpage: Domestic travel during COVID-19 ASTHO Blog Article: Strategies for vaccinating people who are homebased ASTHO: PRAMS announcement ASTHO: Staff Up portal  

Jim Blumenstock, ASTHO's Senior Vice President for Pandemic Response and Recovery, discusses the importance of collaboration as states and territories stand up systems to verify an individual's vaccination status; Joshua Berry, an ASTHO Analyst for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, outlines new tobacco prevention resources now available for ASTHO members; and listeners are reminded to sign up for a new leadership program for public health professionals who self-identify from an under-represented group. Interim COVID-19 vaccination verification and requirements policy statement Website: I COVID QUIT Webpage: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health

Gerrit Bakker, ASTHO's Senior Director for Public Health Preparedness, urges all ASTHO members to prepare for hurricanes, not just those with borders on the Atlantic coastline; Jes Lyons, ASTHO Senior Analyst of Social and Behavioral Health, offers useful advice for agencies thinking about how to braid and layer funding to maximize the impact of critical programs; and Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama's State Health Officer, talks about vaccines in a YouTube video he recorded with his governor, the Hon. Kay Ivey. Webpage: NWS Hurricane Preparedness 2021 Report: Braiding and layering funding for adverse childhood experiences prevention YouTube: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey interviews Dr. Scott Harris on COVID-19

Dr. Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses responding to public concerns about COVID-19 vaccines; Daniel E. Dawes, Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, encourages public health leaders from under-represented communities to sign up for a new ASTHO/Satcher leadership program; and Tequam Tiruneh, an ASTHO senior analyst of Clinical to Community Connections, talks about efforts on behalf of those living with HIV. Document: COVID-19 Vaccine Comparison Webpage: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health Daniel E. Dawes named director of Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine Blog article: Ending the HIV epidemic: 40 years of progress

ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser discusses whether the FDA's decision to give the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine full approval will win over people still uncertain about vaccination; ASTHO's Senior Director for State Health Policy, Andy Baker-White, discusses changing guidance and requirements on masks in schools; and a look at ASTHO's support for a statement urging COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. FDA: FDA approves first COVID-19 vaccine Blog post: The changing guidance and requirements on masks in schools Statement of strong medical consensus for vaccination of pregnant individuals against COVID-19    

Victoria Pless, an ASTHO Senior Analyst of Social and Behavioral Health, explores the ways states and territories have helped make youth sports safe for kids during the pandemic; Alex Mays, Senior National Program Director for the non-profit Healthy Schools Campaign, talks about the assistance her organization provides to ASTHO members; and we preview a new ASTHO blog about steps taken to help children living with disabilities make up for learning lost due to the pandemic. Blog Post: Youth sports as a protective factor to promote resiliency Website: Healthy Schools Campaign Blog Post: States address pandemic-linked learning loss among students with disabilities Microlearning: Innovative STD prevention and treatment strategies

Jim Blumenstock, ASTHO's Senior Vice President for Pandemic Response and Recovery, discusses the logistics of standing up COVID-19 vaccination sites to provide booster shots; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia ponders demand for third doses; and CDC Epidemiologist Sascha Ellington has a reminder for COVID-19 vaccinators. CDC MMWR: Sustained effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 CDC MMWR: New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among adults, by vaccination status CDC MMWR: Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among nursing home residents Microlearning: School Health 101

ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia considers what states and territories need to do to deliver COVID-19 booster shots starting next month; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President-Elect and Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, shares her approach to school mask and vaccine messaging; and the latest update to the ASTHO COVID-19 Vaccine Comparison. CDC: Joint statement from HHS public health and medical experts on COVID-19 booster shots COVID-19 Vaccine Comparison

Dr. Joe Smyser, CEO of The Public Good Projects, discusses the hard work required to manage vaccine misinformation; Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge talks about her new job as ASTHO's senior vice president of health equity and diversity initiatives; and Avia Mason, ASTHO's Vice President of Learning Strategy, highlights the "Insights and Inspiration" speaker series that kicks off this afternoon.      ASTHO welcomes new senior vice president of health equity and diversity initiatives Insights and Inspiration: Monthly conversations for public health leaders in the era of COVID-19 2021 SHIEC Annual Conference webpage

ASTHO President Dr. Nirav Shah (SHO-Maine) considers the risks to watch for as states and territories administer COVID-19 booster shots to some immunocompromised people; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia discusses the work to address expiring vaccine supplies; and ASTHO rolls out a new dashboard with data about environmental health programs and services.        CDC: COVID-19 vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people Environmental health programs and services portal Register: Insight and Inspiration: Monthly conversations for public health leaders in the era of COVID-19

ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia discusses back-to-school mask messaging; Dr. Gillian SteelFisher of the Harvard Opinion Research Program offers help to public health teams communicating mask and vaccine requirements in schools; and ASTHO's Amber Williams talks about the mental health of weary public health workers. The changing guidance and requirements on masks in schools Back to school: Parent views of COVID protection Taking care of the public health workforce post-pandemic New report on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic