Public Health Review Morning Edition

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

ASTHO announces new SVP focused on health equity and diversity initiatives; Territorial health official Esther Muna discusses the pending Medicaid funding cliff. News Release: ASTHO Welcomes New Senior Vice President of Health Equity and Diversity Initiatives ASTHO Policy Statement on Structural Racism as a Public Health Issue Permanent, Sustainable Medicaid Financing for U.S. Territories Policy Statement Medicaid Financing for the Territories Strategies for Vaccinating People Who Are Homebased