480: RSV Messaging, Emergency Contraception

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, August 11, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

ANNE ZINK: 

Part of the work that we're doing as state health officials is to try to make it as easy as possible for individuals to make sure that they are able to get vaccinated.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO President and Alaska Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink, talking about RSV in a media briefing this week. She was joined by other ASTHO leaders including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia.

MARCUS PLESCIA: 

And as everybody knows, in addition to influenza and COVID-19, which I think most of the public is familiar with, we're also now in a position not only that we're more aware of RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, because of our situation last year, but we're also in a much better situation to deal with RSV.

JOHNSON: 

Connecticut Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani reminds audiences the purpose of the vaccine is to limit the severity of the virus.

MANISHA JUTHANI: 

What it's really being recommended for is to be administered to children in the first week of life. And this is to prevent hospitalization, which RSV for our youngest of young children is the most common cause of hospitalization.

JOHNSON: 

Also a concern, a rise in COVID-19 cases and the arrival of a new variant. Louisiana State Health Officer, Dr. Joseph Kanter, says public health remains focused on tracking infections.

JOSEPH KANTER:

We're going to be keeping track very closely, of the highest significant cases which are the hospitalizations, same with flu. And then doing more broad based measures, more surveillance measures for the general population. Like with flu, we don't count every case that's out there in the community. And that's becoming the case with COVID now, too. The analogy that we've been using for quite some time now is, 'You don't have to count every raindrop to know how hard it's raining outside.'

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO has a video recording of the media briefing online. You can see it using the link in the show notes.

Access to emergency contraception can help save lives. This is ASTHO's Sophia Durant.

SOPHIA DURANT: 

Contraception access is an issue of health equity. It gives people control over deciding if or when to get pregnant. Emergency contraception access also improves health outcomes, especially as it relates to maternal and infant health.

JOHNSON: 

Durant says access is defined in many ways.

DURANT: 

Transportation is a huge consideration. For example, can someone get to a store that sells emergency contraception and has it in stock? Can they get to a doctor's office that will prescribe it in time? Privacy is another obstacle, especially for younger folks who want to use their insurance to pay for the medication.

JOHNSON: 

But there is some good news. Durant says public health can remove those barriers.

DURANT: 

Health departments can also implement policies to provide same-day access to emergency contraception through walk-in hours or having day-of appointments available. They can also educate providers in their clinic about proactively prescribing emergency contraception to sexually active people so that they're able to pick up the prescription at the pharmacy whenever it's needed.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO is talking about this topic in a webinar on August 15. You can sign up using the link in the show notes.

Finally today, the role of AI in public health is the subject of another ASTHO event happening later this month. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

Join ASTHO leaders as they explore AI's potential in public health and its current applications in various sectors during a virtual session on August 22 from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Experts will address concerns, emerging AI experiments in governmental health, associated risks, and ASTHO's role in continuing national conversation around AI in state and territorial public health. Register today via the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Just a reminder, before we go, if you have a minute, please take time to leave us a review. We'd like to know what you think.

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.