647: A New Social Determinant, Measles Outbreak Response

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, April 19, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

RACHEL LEVINE: 

What I consider a new social determinant of health. And that is actually the legal and political climate of the state that you live in.

JOHNSON: 

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral, Rachel Levine, reflecting on the policy factors that impact public health.

LEVINE: 

If you live in some states, women do not have the right to the full range of reproductive health choices. Transgender individuals might not have the ability to access transgender medicine in some states, and they do in other states.

JOHNSON: 

Levine says dozens of federal agencies are teaming up to break down silos that slow or prevent good public health outcomes.

LEVINE: 

We are looking at well-being, we're looking at justice, we're looking at health, and the vital conditions of health well-being injustice.

JOHNSON: 

Hear more of the conversation with Admiral Levine and others talking about new approaches to address the social determinants in a fresh episode of the Public Health Review podcast. It's available now everywhere you stream audio. There's also a link in the show notes.

A measles outbreak in the Chicago area has public health officials there focused on vaccinations. Massimo Pacilli is at the Chicago Health Department. During an online news conference hosted this week by the Big Cities Health Coalition, Pacilli said teams are working to immunize people staying in shelters around the city.

PACILLI: 

There are about nearly 30 new arrivals shelters and we've deployed vaccinations in each of those settings. And then in addition to that, we have certainly done a lot of engagement with our provider communities, our community based organizations to just raise overall awareness.

JOHNSON: 

Pacilli, told reporters the response also includes offering vaccinations when people first arrive in Chicago.

MASSIMO PACILLI: 

The other thing that we're doing is also introducing vaccination opportunity at the triage point for new arrivals so that we continue to support and protect this community as it reaches the city.

JOHNSON: 

As of this week, Pacilli says the city has delivered almost 14,000 measles vaccines.

PACILLI: 

And nearly half of those are the direct result of the department response to the outbreak. But the rest is really reflective of the rest of the city and provider sort of recalling their patients who are eligible for the vaccine to administer it to them.

JOHNSON: 

In response to a question about money to pay for the effort. Big Cities Health Coalition Executive Director, Chrissie Juliano, says this is why public health needs flexible funding.

CHRISSIE JULIANO: 

One thing that is not often talked about is the fact that CDC gets very specific funding streams appropriated by Congress. So, not only does the city of Chicago not have a pot of money to tap into for this response, frankly, CDC doesn't either. So when jurisdictions at the state and local level, go to the agency, CDC, they too have to figure out what funding stream are we pulling this from.

JOHNSON: 

You can see Chicago's measles dashboard and other related resources using the links in the show notes.

Also today, if you think you know what it takes to be a good leader, you might want to think again, ASTHO's Dr. Kimberly Wyche-Etheridge says it's time to break the mold. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A new ASTHO blog article delves into how DEI supports public health leadership. The article underscores the importance of traditional skills like knowledge and management. Alongside embracing failure, diverse perspectives, and innovative strategies for genuine leadership. You can access the full article via the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Finally this morning, get the latest news and resources every week when you sign up to receive ASTHO's Public Health Weekly Email Newsletter. Join the list by clicking the link in the show notes.

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We are on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

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