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Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Coordinator of the Mpox National Response for the White House, shares steps public health leaders can take to protect against a potential rise in Mpox cases; Christina Severin, Director of Public Health Law at ASTHO,...
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Coordinator of the Mpox National Response for the White House, shares steps public health leaders can take to protect against a potential rise in Mpox cases; Christina Severin, Director of Public Health Law at ASTHO, says newborn screening policies often vary by jurisdiction; ASTHO celebrates the success of a pandemic-era program to help agencies better serve people with disabilities during public health emergencies; and register for a webinar to learn how two project pilot sites that are part of ASTHO’s Vaccine Equity Project used partnerships to improve vaccine uptake.
CDC: Get Healthy and Ready for Summer | LGBT Health | CDC
ASTHO Webpage: Handle with Care: State Newborn Screening Policies
ASTHO Webinar: Partnerships for Progress: An Intro to the Vaccine Equity Project
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, June 5, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
DEMETRE DASKALAKIS:
We're not out of the woods with the outbreak.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Caution about the potential for more cases of Mpox from Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Coordinator of the National Mpox Response at the White House.
DEMETRE DASKALAKIS:
But there's actually a good news piece to the story, which is that the folks who did get Mpox after vaccination are for the most part having very mild symptoms.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
The CDC says gatherings this summer could lead to more cases. Daskalakis says public health agencies can help by reminding people about vaccinations.
DEMETRE DASKALAKIS:
So, I think that really the messaging is if you haven't gotten your first dose, and you're among individuals who could benefit for the vaccine, get that first dose. If you haven't gotten that second dose, finish the job, get the second dose and really get the highest level of protection that's possible.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
He also says leaders have experts on staff who know where to conduct outreach and immunization activities.
DEMETRE DASKALAKIS:
Talk to your HIV/STI folks. Ask them, 'What are the events that we should focus on where we could either get messaging or vaccine to?' And then take that step and connect all the pieces of the health department, the part that does Mpox the part that does engagement and say, 'Can we actually target a couple of these events?'
ROBERT JOHNSON:
The CDC has a new website on this topic. Daskalakis says it focuses on health, not illness.
DEMETRE DASKALAKIS:
It is a joyous, loving website that talks about how to prepare for summer 2023, including like, sort of, the Pride Season. So, it is a great resource. It is syndemic and status-neutral. And what I mean by that is it covers travelers' health, it covers sexual health, including Mpox vaccination. It covers COVID vaccine and then also covers overdose prevention. So, it's a one stop shop and on that same webpage, Mpox vaccine finder, STI/HIV service locator, as well as information on mental health.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
You can visit the website using the link in the show notes. **Newborn screenings are on the legislative agenda in some state and territorial capitals. ASTHO's Christina Severin says the approach to checking newborns can vary by jurisdiction.
CHRISTINA SEVERIN:
Each jurisdiction establishes their own newborn screening program and decides what conditions they screen for and generally how their program is administered. So, there's actually quite a lot of variability out there.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Severin says most jurisdictions will test for at least 31 of 35 core conditions that are part of the federal government's Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, adding some will make adjustments to their requirements.
CHRISTINA SEVERIN:
So for example, some states can add conditions in through an executive action, but other states require the legislature to weigh in. We've also seen state legislatures take action to ensure support for families impacted by the results that have been identified through the newborn screening process.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Many proposals and policies under consideration or already enacted are summarized in a new ASTHO blog article online now.
CHRISTINA SEVERIN:
The goal of this update is to show the different actions that jurisdictions are taking in this space to highlight the additions that jurisdictions are making and the approach that they've taken with respect to the administration of their programs.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
You can read the policy update using the link in the show notes. **Also today, a pandemic-era program to help ASTHO members better serve people with disabilities during public health emergencies was a success, according to a new blog article. O'Keyla Cooper has more.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
ASTHO, with funding from the CDC, aided jurisdictions in supporting the needs of people with disabilities during COVID 19 and beyond. Disability and preparedness specialists were placed in 16 states and two territorial health agencies to promote inclusion and emergency preparedness. Learn more about this program by reading the full blog using the link in the show notes.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Finally, this morning ASTHO's Vaccine Equity Project is examined during a webinar planned on Wednesday, June 21. Learn how two project pilot sites used partnerships to improve vaccine uptake. There's a link to sign up in the show notes. **That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
Deputy Coordinator, Mpox National Response for the White House
Director, Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
