Respiratory Illnesses Episodes

1069: Data, People, and the Future of Public Health Response
Feb. 13, 2026

1069: Data, People, and the Future of Public Health Response

Behind every public health response are two make-or-break factors: the people doing the work and the systems that help them work together. First, Shirley Orr, Executive Director of the Association of Public Health Nurses,, di...
1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Jan. 7, 2026

1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable

As flu cases climb across the country and pediatric deaths rise, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, ASTHO member and Michigan’s chief medical executive, joins us to break down what this flu season means for families, health agencies, and health care systems.
1027: RSV Season Update: Data Gaps, Trends, and Immunization Efforts
Nov. 12, 2025

1027: RSV Season Update: Data Gaps, Trends, and Immunization Efforts

Dr. Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at ASTHO, shares an update on rising RSV activity and how states are tracking trends during the federal shutdown. She highlights new tools that protect infants, including maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, and explains how public health and birthi…
992: Respiratory Vaccines Update, Succession Planning How-To
Sept. 17, 2025

992: Respiratory Vaccines Update, Succession Planning How-To

Dr. Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at ASTHO, discusses updates to federal health initiatives that continue to impact public health agencies, including the latest report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission and recent activity regarding vaccines; Tiffany Day, public health specialis…
987: One Health, Fall Vaccination Season
Sept. 10, 2025

987: One Health, Fall Vaccination Season

Dr. Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist and state public health veterinarian at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discusses ASTHO’s recent meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the importance of the One Health approach; a recent ASTHO blog artic…
984: Childhood Vaccination Efforts; FY26 Public Health Funding
Sept. 5, 2025

984: Childhood Vaccination Efforts; FY26 Public Health Funding

Dr. Arti Barnes, chief medical officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes how her agency is working collaboratively with other state departments to enhance access to pediatric vaccinations; Jeffrey Ekoma, senior director of government affairs at ASTHO, discusses changes to the C…
971: Medicaid & Public Health Team Up, Respiratory Virus Season
Aug. 18, 2025

971: Medicaid & Public Health Team Up, Respiratory Virus Season

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, and Kate McEvoy, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, discuss a new partnership between the two organizations; Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO,...
970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course
Aug. 15, 2025

970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO chief medical officer, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president and state health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO presid…
805: Lame Duck Priority Preview, National Influenza Vaccination Week
Dec. 6, 2024

805: Lame Duck Priority Preview, National Influenza Vaccination Week

Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for Government Affairs, tells us what to expect from Congress as the year wraps up; Dr. Brendan Jackson, director of the Office of Readiness, Response, and Operations for the CDC's National Center for Immunization...
746: Preparedness Requires Year-Round Collaboration, AmeriCorps Grants
Sept. 10, 2024

746: Preparedness Requires Year-Round Collaboration, AmeriCorps Grants

Alysia Mihalakos, chief, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Rhode Island Department of Health, and chair of the ASTHO Directors of Public Health Preparedness Peer Network, discusses National Preparedness Month and year-round...
606: RSV Treatment Availability, Indiana’s Big Funding Win
Feb. 22, 2024

606: RSV Treatment Availability, Indiana’s Big Funding Win

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, discusses the supply and demand challenges impacting new RSV antibody products; Luke Kenley, former Indiana state senator, tells us how he helped lead the committee to develop and promote the public...
581: Policies Connect Health Care and PH Funding Tips
Jan. 17, 2024

581: Policies Connect Health Care and PH Funding Tips

Brianna Gorman, ASTHO analyst for Performance Excellence, explains ways to connect public health and health care in communities; Dr. Lindsay Weaver, ASTHO member and state health commissioner for the Indiana Department of Health, tells us how Indiana...
580: Reflections on Racial Healing, Readiness Website Launches Today
Jan. 16, 2024

580: Reflections on Racial Healing, Readiness Website Launches Today

Natasha Harper-Levy, ASTHO director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, reflects on the National Day of Racial Healing’s value and purpose; Margaux Haviland, ASTHO director of Preparedness and Response Coordination, explains what users will see...
577: New Preparedness Website Set to Launch, COVID Vaccine Messaging
Jan. 10, 2024

577: New Preparedness Website Set to Launch, COVID Vaccine Messaging

Margaux Haviland, ASTHO director for Preparedness and Response Coordination, shares that the Inspire Readiness website goes live on January 16; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, wants public health to focus its COVID vaccine promotion...
564: Flavored Tobacco Bans and Pricing Strategies, Respiratory Disease Guidance
Dec. 14, 2023

564: Flavored Tobacco Bans and Pricing Strategies, Respiratory Disease Guidance

Dr. Barbara Wallace, director of the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention at the New York State Department of Health, discusses various strategies to curb tobacco use; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, worries that too many sick...
559: Policy Ideas Address Maternal Morbidity, Investment in the 9-8-8 Hotline
Dec. 7, 2023

559: Policy Ideas Address Maternal Morbidity, Investment in the 9-8-8 Hotline

Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, examines the third edition of the state’s maternal morbidity and mortality report; Dr. Umair Shah, secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health, discusses...
557: Pharmacists Give RSV Vaccine Without Prescription, PH Needs to Boost Strategic Skillset
Dec. 5, 2023

557: Pharmacists Give RSV Vaccine Without Prescription, PH Needs to Boost Strategic Skillset

Dr. Jim McDonald, commissioner of Health, New York State Department of Health, gives an order that allows New York pharmacists to administer RSV vaccines to older adults and pregnant people without a prescription; de Beaumont President and CEO Dr....
548: Thankful for Public Health, New Guide to Manage Respiratory Illness
Nov. 20, 2023

548: Thankful for Public Health, New Guide to Manage Respiratory Illness

Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO president and commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health; extends his gratitude for Public Health Thank You Day; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, discusses how ASTHO worked on a discussion guide...