Public Health Review Morning Edition

Brent Ewig, Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, is tracking legislative attempts to weaken local immunization laws; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, CDC Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, says the nation's experience with HIV has helped inform the Mpox response; and learn how to align the goals of your public health and state Medicaid agencies in a new webinar planned for today at 3 p.m. eastern time. ASTHO Webpage: Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Virginia ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President and Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska, discusses the significance of ASTHO's 80th anniversary; Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO's Immediate Past President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reflects on his time as ASTHO's President, which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic; and changes may be on the way to the WIC food package approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. National WIC Association News Release: Broad Support for USDA Effort to Enhance Access to Healthy Foods for WIC Families ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Sidnie Christian, ASTHO Analyst for Infectious Diseases, calls attention to the public health impacts of hurricanes; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, discusses the organization turning 80 years old this year; and ASTHO recently hosted a call with the Climate Change Collaborative to discuss initiatives, capacity, and challenges related to climate change and environmental justice. ASTHO Blog Article: Preparing for and Responding to Infectious Disease Threats Following Hurricanes ASTHO Report: Climate Change and Environmental Justice: A Snapshot of Jurisdiction Activities

Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, explains how the agency's Mpox response benefitted from its COVID-19 experience; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President and Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska, says vaccination rates in Alaska are better in Alaskan Native communities than they are in the rest of the state; ASTHO is working with the National Community Action Partnership and five agencies in the Partnering for Vaccine Equity project; and learn how to align the goals of your public health and state Medicaid agencies in a new webinar planned for Tuesday, December 13th. SFGATE News Article: How fighting COVID prepared CT health officials for monkeypox ASTHO Blog Article: Partnering with Community Action Agencies Can Improve Trust in Vaccines ASTHO Webpage: Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Virginia

Leslie Fowler, Prevention Program Manager with the Wyoming Department of Health, discusses the challenges of reaching people with STI information and services; Shalini Nair, Senior Analyst for Infection Disease for ASTHO, says five community action agencies are working with ASTHO to improve vaccine uptake among racial and ethnic minority groups, and for people living in rural areas; and an ASTHO blog article encourages public health leaders to work closely with Gen Z to generate public health messaging that resonates with young audiences. Wyoming Department of Health Webpage: Sexually Transmitted Infections an Increasing Concern in Wyoming ASTHO Course: Wyoming's Response to the Increased Need for Accessible Condoms ASTHO Blog Article: Public Health and Healthcare Partner to Promote Influenza Vaccination ASTHO Blog Article: Cultivating Gen Z as Partners for Healthier Communities ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Kim Martin, ASTHO's Director of Immunization, reminds us that vaccines this winter are more important than ever as we recognize National Influenza Vaccination Week; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, discusses the announcement that ASTHO is one of three to win CDC grant funding that aims to help jurisdictions build public health infrastructure over the next five years; and Alex Kearly, ASTHO Director of Medicaid and Value Based Payment, says members can learn how to align their state Medicaid agencies with the goal to end the HIV epidemic in a new webinar scheduled for December 13th. CDC Webpage: 2022 NIVW Digital Media Toolkit ASTHO News Release: Three National Public Health Associations Will Support Historic Opportunity to Build Public Health Infrastructure ASTHO Webpage: Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Virginia

Amber Williams, ASTHO's Senior Vice President for Leadership and Organizational Performance, talks about the organization's annual winter retreat happening this week in San Diego; Lexa Giragosian, Analyst for Maternal and Infant Health with ASTHO, discusses how states and territories are taking action to address a mental health crisis among adolescent girls; and ASTHO has a report detailing the risks and possible responses to disruptions in access to opioid prescriptions. ASTHO Blog Article: School-Based Strategies are Crucial to Supporting Adolescent Girls' Mental Health ASTHO Report: Responding to Disruptions in Access to Opioid Prescriptions: A Guide for State Health Departments and Their Partners ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Amber Williams, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Leadership & Organizational Performance, discusses the CDC's announcement that ASTHO will receive significant funding to help public health agencies address key infrastructure needs; Brent Ewig, Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, says there are two main communication challenges facing his members right now; and an ASTHO blog article explains that during a hurricane's aftermath, health agencies must take steps to prevent infectious disease spread. ASTHO News Release: Three National Public Health Associations Will Support Historic Opportunity to Build Public Health Infrastructure National Public Health Information Coalition Webpage: NPHIC Podcast ASTHO Blog Article: Preparing for and Responding to Infectious Disease Threats Following Hurricanes

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, CDC Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, discusses the ongoing HIV epidemic on World AIDS Day; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, says newly announced money from the CDC will allow his organization to "fully engage and support" state and territorial agencies as they prepare for the next pandemic; Dr. Morgan McDonald, Interim Health Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health, describes how Tennessee is planning to spend $230 million on new health resiliency projects in the Volunteer state; and Susan Best, Program Manager for the Division of Food and Lead Risk Assessment with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, explains how South Carolina has done more than 42,000 restaurant inspections online. World AIDS Day Webpage World Health Organization News Release: WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease ASTHO News Release: Three National Public Health Associations Will Support Historic Opportunity to Build Public Health Infrastructure CDC News Release: CDC Awards More Than $3 Billion to Improve U.S. Public Health Workforce and Infrastructure ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Beth Kallmyer, Vice President of Care and Support at the Alzheimer's Association, discusses National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month; Dr. Morgan McDonald, Interim Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health, examines plans to award $230 million in grants to help improve health resiliency in the state; ASTHO members in hurricane-prone areas of the country are sharing lessons learned with those looking to improve their storm response plans; and we conclude our month-long recognition of Public Health Thank You Day with one last thankful note. Alzheimer's Association Webpage Tennessee Department of Health News Release: Gov. Lee Announces $230 Million in Health Resiliency Grants to Transform Care & Services In Tennessee ASTHO Blog Article: Responding to Environmental Health Threats Following Hurricanes ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know