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Maggie Davis, ASTHO director of State Health Policy, explains why some states had difficulty getting access to new immunization products; the newly announced implementation centers wouldn’t be possible without key partners; Dr. Manisha Juthani,...
Maggie Davis, ASTHO director of State Health Policy, explains why some states had difficulty getting access to new immunization products; the newly announced implementation centers wouldn’t be possible without key partners; Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, tells us about Connecticut’s recent adoption of the FDA Food Code; an ASTHO webinar allows you to hear from leaders at ASTHO and the CDC about how to properly communicate with policymakers; and an ASTHO brief examines how Puerto Rico strengthened its grant management functions.
ASTHO Blog Article: State Policies Impact Access to New Immunization Products
Public Health Review Podcast: Improving Retail Food Safety with the FDA Food Code
ASTHO Webinar: Disease Forecasting Learning Series - Communicating with Policymakers
ASTHO Report: A Framework for Linking PRAMS with Administrative Data
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, July 15, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
MAGGIE DAVIS:
We have this great new product it was recommended for the Vaccines for Children's Program. Under the state laws that establishes programs and in least two states, they had a very technical definition of, what was a vaccine, that the state could purchase.
SILVERS:
ASTHO's Maggie Davis talks about barriers some states faced trying to acquire their CiviMed under universal purchase programs. Normally, these programs purchase all ACIP-recommended vaccines. Even though their CiviMed was recommended by ACIP, some state definitions of a vaccine restricted them from purchasing the product.
DAVIS:
And in that definition, they had it as a category of vaccine as a product that basically stimulates the immunization response in the body. This product recommended for nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody where instead of having an antigen stimulate that response, it directly provides the antibodies into the system. So by their state law definition, nirsevimab is not a vaccine.
SILVERS:
Two states successfully corrected the issue through legislation.
DAVIS:
Washington state really just did a technical fix to their how they defined vaccine and state law and their new definition is inclusive of all ACIP recommended FDA approved products.
SILVERS:
New Hampshire took a slightly different approach.
DAVIS:
And instead of altering what they had to find this vaccine, they brought in their program to specifically include the biologics product to prevent RSV. So they kind of did a specific carve out for this one product that is the only kind of non-vaccine or vaccine-like product that is currently recommended through the Vaccine for Children's program.
SILVERS:
Davis says it is important for public health leaders to educate policymakers on vaccine advancements. As we move forward. You can find a full blog article with more information in the show notes.
Last week, ASTHO and its partners, the National Network of Public Health Institute and the Public Health Accreditation Board, announced a new implementation center program to help local agencies with their data modernization initiatives. The Implementation Center program is funded by the CDC and fueled by the expertise of key partners, Chris shared services, guidehouse, and mathematica. Read ASTHO's news release about the program by using the link in the show notes.
States can consider implementing the FDA Food Code. Connecticut is one state that recently adopted the FDA Food Code. Here's the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Dr. Manisha Juthani, explaining the decision.
MANISHA JUTHANI:
We would consider the FDA Food Code the gold standard, and one of the primary benefits of it is that it provides that uniform standard that is well recognized by the industry.
SILVERS:
Jhutani recommends that every state examine whether the FDA Food Code is right for its constituents.
JUTHANI:
One of the reasons that other states should really consider this is that the food code is updated every four years. And it's taking into account any new evolving science, any new best practices in terms of the food industry and establishing those guidelines at the federal level.
SILVERS:
Jhuthani also says they found the benefits worth the initial work.
JUTHANI:
It is, in the end, worth the initial lift to do this because I think you really are setting yourself up for a better execution and implementation of our regulatory authority as a health department regarding food safety.
SILVERS:
Hear more from Juthani as well as other health leaders in Connecticut about their FDA Food Code journey by checking out the latest episode of the Public Health Review podcast. The link to that episode, which includes Juthani's full interview is in the show notes.
Also today, hear from leaders at ASTHO and the CDC discuss how to properly communicate with policymakers as part of ASTHO's Disease Forecasting Learning Series. The webinar will provide key considerations for developing documents and talking points that will be used to brief leadership. A link to sign up is in the shownotes.
Finally today, at ASTHO brief examines how Puerto Rico strengthened its grant management functions. The Puerto Rico Department of Health is the grants management office structure optimization toolkit as a guide to improve their grant work. Find the toolkit and an infographic outlining the work by using the link in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
