COVID-19 Episodes

59: Today’s Vaccine Vote
Nov. 2, 2021

59: Today’s Vaccine Vote

Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director of the Washington D.C. Department of Health, addresses the importance of answering parents’ questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children; Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,...
58: School Mask Lawsuits
Nov. 1, 2021

58: School Mask Lawsuits

Maggie Davis, ASTHO’s Director of State Health Policy, examines the flurry of lawsuits and court orders resulting from legislative and executive prohibitions of school masking policies; Lindsey Myers, ASTHO’s Vice President of Social and...
57: COVID Tricks on Halloween
Oct. 29, 2021

57: COVID Tricks on Halloween

Dr. Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, explains how public health departments can use upcoming data from the PH Wins workforce study fielded by his organization and ASTHO; Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio...
55: Pediatric COVID Vaccine Sites
Oct. 27, 2021

55: Pediatric COVID Vaccine Sites

James Blumenstock, ASTHO’s Senior Vice President for Pandemic Response and Recovery, shares how states and territories are preparing for the possibility of a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine; Kathy Dolan, Director of Environmental Health at ASTHO, tells...
54: PH Workforce Crisis
Oct. 26, 2021

54: PH Workforce Crisis

Dr. Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the non-profit de Beaumont Foundation, considers the public health workforce crisis; Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana’s State Health Commissioner, says public health departments can help reduce stigma for pregnant...
52: New York Times PH Survey – Pt 2
Oct. 22, 2021

52: New York Times PH Survey – Pt 2

New York Times journalist Danielle Ivory details the feedback she and her team received from public health professionals responding to the newspaper’s survey about their work during the pandemic; ASTHO Board Member and former Minnesota health...
51: New York Times PH Survey
Oct. 21, 2021

51: New York Times PH Survey

Danielle Ivory, a journalist for the New York Times, explains the results of the newspaper’s survey of hundreds of local public health departments; Senate budgeteers release FY 22 Appropriations bills, including a historic increase in funding for...
50: Social Media Health Concerns
Oct. 20, 2021

50: Social Media Health Concerns

Stephanie Smiley, former state health officer for Wisconsin, examines the impact of social media on young people; Community COVID Coalition members release new social media animations to educate people ages 18 to 24 about vaccine safety; ASTHO CEO...
49: Preparing for Flu Season
Oct. 19, 2021

49: Preparing for Flu Season

Dr. Denise Johnson, Acting Physician General at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, discusses the upcoming flu season; Avia Mason, ASTHO Vice President of Learning Strategy, outlines ASTHO’s annual fall board meeting agenda and a new "Insight and...
48: Pt 2 -State of the COVID-19 Response
Oct. 18, 2021

48: Pt 2 -State of the COVID-19 Response

Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, talks about the importance of COVID vaccines for young children; Executive coach Larry Lewis explains the value of recognizing small victories even...
47: State of the COVID-19 Response
Oct. 15, 2021

47: State of the COVID-19 Response

Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, addresses the state of the campaign against COVID-19; Kim Martin, ASTHO’s Director of Immunizations, says more approved booster formulas would be...
46: New FDA Booster Shot Debate
Oct. 14, 2021

46: New FDA Booster Shot Debate

ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia forecasts this week’s FDA discussions about the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shots; ASTHO President Elect Dr. Anne Zink explains the importance of recognizing small victories even...
45: Infection Control Funding
Oct. 13, 2021

45: Infection Control Funding

Janet Hamilton, Executive Director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists explains how $2 billion in CDC funds will help hospitals and healthcare facilities fight infections; Jonathan Wolfe, ASTHO’s Senior Director of Content...
44: The Next Medicaid Cliff?
Oct. 12, 2021

44: The Next Medicaid Cliff?

Dr. Jose Romero, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, discusses the negative impact vaccine misinformation has on efforts to protect communities of color from the COVID-19 virus; Congressman Darren Soto of Florida considers what’s next in...
42: New Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Report
Oct. 7, 2021

42: New Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Report

Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses concerns of workshop participants about the way Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) decisions are communicated; Ericka McGowan, ASTHO’s...
40: Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines
Oct. 5, 2021

40: Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines

Dr. Jose Romero, a pediatrician and Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, discusses COVID-19 vaccines for kids and parental hesitancy; ASTHO leaders discuss the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process during a national workshop...
39: Territories Avoid Medicaid Cliff
Oct. 4, 2021

39: Territories Avoid Medicaid Cliff

Carolyn McCoy, ASTHO’s Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs, explains how an extension of Medicaid funding for U.S. Territories gives them more time to work toward a permanent policy solution; Dr. Joseph Kanter, Louisiana’s State Health...
38: Wildfire and Hurricane Preparedness
Oct. 1, 2021

38: Wildfire and Hurricane Preparedness

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the appropriate role of monoclonal antibodies in the COVID-19 response; ASTHO has a Q/A for public health teams who need to explain the CDC’s revised guidance for pregnant or...
37: Workforce Reforms Pitched
Sept. 30, 2021

37: Workforce Reforms Pitched

Dr. Joseph Kanter, Louisiana’s State Health Officer and Medical Director, calls on Congress to take steps to address urgent public health workforce needs; Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health for Washington state, reminds public health leaders to...
36: Heart Health Messages
Sept. 29, 2021

36: Heart Health Messages

Dr. Dave Dixon, a clinical pharmacist and a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention Section and Leadership Council, tells us how public health teams can apply the message of World Heart Day in their jurisdictions;  Joanne...
35: Medicaid Cliff Nears
Sept. 28, 2021

35: Medicaid Cliff Nears

Karl Ensign, ASTHO’s Vice President for Territorial Support, discusses the potential for Congressional action to approve enhanced financial support for Medicaid services in the U.S. Territories, as a Thursday deadline nears; Dr. Joseph Kanter,...
33: Booster Votes Explained
Sept. 24, 2021

33: Booster Votes Explained

ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia explains several votes taken by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Thursday, including one against COVID-19 booster shots for people with occupational or institutional risks; Dr. Ed...
31: Booster Shot Debate
Sept. 22, 2021

31: Booster Shot Debate

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer and ASTHO President-elect, considers the potential for COVID-19 booster shots for some populations; Nick Porter, ASTHO’s Director for Environmental Health, explains how members can benefit from a new...
29: Vaccinating Neighborhoods
Sept. 20, 2021

29: Vaccinating Neighborhoods

Haley Burrous, an analyst on ASTHO’s preparedness team, explains a positive side effect of Mississippi’s in-home vaccination program; Adrienne Williams, a disability specialist working with the Mississippi State Department of Health, talks about...