Public Health Review Morning Edition

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