Public Health Review Morning Edition

NOTE: CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced late Thursday that booster shots would be available to frontline and health care workers, overruling the ACIP vote against covering those groups. This decision was announced after Morning Edition's deadline. ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia explains several votes taken by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Thursday, including one against COVID-19 booster shots for people with occupational or institutional risks; Dr. Ed Ehlinger, former commissioner of health from Minnesota, gives his take on the state of infant health in the United States; and we report on a new ASTHO guide for states and territories considering a gap analysis to assess administrative policies and procedures. CDC Webpage: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices CDC Webpage: Infant Mortality Month ASTHO Resource: State home visiting approaches improve early childhood outcomes and systems ASTHO Blog Article: The importance of family engagement in breastfeeding programs ASTHO Resource: Guide on conducting an administrative policy assessment and gap analysis

ASTHO releases a legislative alert on the status of Congressional negotiations to extend the federal debt limit; Ray Barishansky, Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, considers the state of emergency preparedness efforts, twenty years after 9/11; Dr. Joshua Starr, CEO of PDK International, explains the value of constant communication with parents navigating the perils of the pandemic; and ASTHO posts a new blog article discussing the important role pharmacies play in the response to public health emergencies. ASTHO Legislative Alert: Continuing Resolution analysis ASTHO Article: Twenty years after 9/11 – The public health preparedness we need now PDK International Webpage: PDK poll of the public's attitudes toward the public schools ASTHO Blog Article: Pharmacies are critical to pandemic planning, not just response

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska's Chief Medical Officer and ASTHO President-elect, considers the potential for COVID-19 booster shots for some populations; Nick Porter, ASTHO's Director for Environmental Health, explains how members can benefit from a new dashboard; ASTHO has fresh job openings; and a blog article provides samples of legislation expanding access to Naloxone to prevent opioid overdoses. CDC Webpage: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ASTHO Resource: Environmental health programs and services portal ASTHO Webpage: Careers at ASTHO ASTHO Blog Article: Increasing Naloxone accessibility to prevent opioid overdoses

Dr. Joshua Starr, CEO of PDK International, explains how polling parents of school children can inform public health messaging; Andy Baker-White, ASTHO's Senior Director for State Health Policy, discusses the impact of new state laws rolling back authorities used to protect public health; and we highlight an ASTHO Brief examining the healthcare digital divide. PDK International Webpage: PDK poll of the public's attitudes toward the public schools Kaiser Health News: Over half of states have rolled back public health powers in pandemic ASTHO Brief: Bridging the digital divide in healthcare to improve access to care

Haley Burrous, an analyst on ASTHO's preparedness team, explains a positive side effect of Mississippi's in-home vaccination program; Adrienne Williams, a disability specialist working with the Mississippi State Department of Health, talks about the opportunity to expand vaccination efforts in neighborhoods; Dr. Deb Stone, a behavioral scientist and the team lead for the CDC's suicide prevention efforts, discusses tools for ASTHO members who want to improve local suicide prevention programs; and ASTHO releases a blog article explaining how some states are adopting crisis standards of care. ASTHO Brief: Strategies for vaccinating people who are homebased CDC Resource: Preventing suicide - A technical package of policy, programs, and practices ASTHO Blog Article: Scarce medical resources caused by COVID-19 lead to difficult allocation decisions

Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia's Health Commissioner, discusses the approach states and territories should take to funding for the public health workforce; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia reacts to a new CDC/Trust for America's Health report on obesity in the U.S.; and ASTHO releases the findings of its annual scan of issues important to state and territorial health agencies. ASTHO Statement: ASTHO encourages immediate action to address the rising obesity rates in the wake of COVID-19 ASTHO: Workforce resources ASTHO News Release: New report on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health workers presents concerning data on workforce well-being ASTHO Brief: Performance management essentials

Amelia Poulin, an ASTHO Senior Analyst for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response and Recovery, details an expanded contact tracing training curriculum for case investigators and teams doing COVID-19 work; CDC's Dr. Lisa Grohskopf and Joynetta Kelly talk about the coming flu season and possible vaccination fatigue; and we preview an article written by Dr. Esther Muna, Chief Executive Officer of the CNMI Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, about a looming Sept. 30th deadline for Medicaid funding in the Territories. CDC Webpage: Influenza vaccine recommendations CDC Webpage: Flu information for health professionals ASTHO Training: Making contact – A training for COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers The Hill: Devastating decisions loom for the territories if Congress does not act by Sept. 30

Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, outlines Congressional priorities as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill; Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, with the CDC's Influenza Division, discusses the safety of flu vaccines; ASTHO details new career openings; and a microlearning helps ASTHO members navigate the Healthy People 2030 report. CDC Webpage: Influenza vaccine recommendations CDC Webpage: Flu information for health professionals ASTHO: Job opportunities ASTHO Learning: Preparing for Healthy People 2030 Report: Healthy People 2030

Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO's Director of Government Affairs, discusses the FDA's move to delay a decision on marketing applications for some flavored e-cigarette products; Melissa McGrath, Chief of Staff for the Council of Chief State School Officers, explains how state education and public health officials are working to create school-focused mental health programs; and we share details of ASTHO's next Insight and Inspiration event in October. ASTHO News Release: Prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and cigars will improve the public's health ASTHO Policy Statement: Tobacco use prevention and control position statement ASTHO Event: Insight and Inspiration series

ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser shares member feedback about President Biden's new COVID-19 strategy; Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi's State Health Officer, explains the pandemic's impact on the nation's hospitals; ASTHO issues a revised COVID-19 vaccine comparison guide; and we remind you about a crisis leadership bootcamp that's online and available now. White House: Path out of the Pandemic CDC: COVID data tracker weekly review ASTHO Resource: COVID-19 vaccine comparison ASTHO Learning: How to be prepared to serve during COVID-19