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Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, wants public health to focus on medical providers as the primary way to promote the RSV vaccine; an ASTHO blog article explains why public health readiness during the respiratory virus season is key; an...
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, wants public health to focus on medical providers as the primary way to promote the RSV vaccine; an ASTHO blog article explains why public health readiness during the respiratory virus season is key; an ASTHO blog article outlines how to use data to better understand the vaccine opinion landscape; and Dr. Kris Bryant, a healthcare epidemiologist at Norton Children's Hospital, says the American Academy of Pediatrics is working to make it known that health disparities exist when it comes to influenza.
ASTHO Blog Article: Policymakers Boosting Public Health Readiness for Respiratory Illness Season
ASTHO Blog Article: Using Data and Effective Messaging to Support Strong Vaccine Policy
Healthy Children Webpage: Which Flu Vaccine Should Children Get?
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, October 25, 2023. I am Janson Silvers. Now today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
MARCUS PLESCIA:
My main message here would be it's time to shift back and pay some more attention to the medical provider community.
SILVERS:
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia wants public health to focus on medical providers as the primary way to promote the RSV vaccine,
PLESCIA:
The rollout of the RSV vaccine, and as everyone I think, knows, there's a couple of different types of vaccines that can be used for this. It's been a little bit rocky, there's been supply and demand issues, really probably more supply issues, just getting the vaccine out there getting it into practices, you know, getting it out to places where people can get it.
SILVERS:
Plescia says pharmacists have done a great job of vaccinating people against COVID-19. But he says they've been slower to engage patients about the RSV vaccine.
PLESCIA:
I'm just a little bit cautious about whether we're going to get the same level of access through pharmacies. I mean, you know, I think they may be a little more nervous about these age groups and this patient type than they are for adult vaccine or even for vaccines and older kids. I'm not saying you know, all pharmacies will be like that. But so I think that for public health leaders need to realize this may be one where we've really got to work that healthcare provider chain.
SILVERS:
He also says there are some clear advantages associated with giving vaccines through medical providers.
PLESCIA:
With COVID, we were able to do so much through pharmacies, but I think it's time to shift attention back not just for RSV, but for all vaccines because that there are some advantages to providers offering vaccines as far as helping convince people who are on the fence or vaccine hesitant as we call it.
SILVERS:
Public health readiness during the respiratory virus season is key. O'keyla Cooper has more.
O’KEYLA COOPER:
As fall approaches respiratory viruses tend to increase last year's tripledemic of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV strained hospitals. This year, health care systems prepare for potential influx of cases. Fortunately, public health leaders have approved vaccines and preventative antibody treatments to combat all three viruses. Read the full blog article linked in the show notes.
SILVERS:
Also today, data can be used to support sound vaccine policy and ASTHO blog article outlines how to better understand the vaccine opinion landscape and offers ways to leverage the data into messaging that will make a real difference. The link is in the show notes.
SILVERS:
October marks Children's Health Month. Dr. Kris Bryant who works at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, says the American Academy of Pediatrics is trying to make people aware that COVID-19 isn't the only respiratory illness impacted by health disparities.
KRIS BRYANT:
We also need to acknowledge and address health disparities related to influenza. There was one study that looked at ten influenza seasons, and there were higher rates of influenza associated hospitalizations as well as ICU admissions in Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaskan Native people. Important for pediatricians to know disparities were highest in children less than four years of age.
SILVERS:
Bryant says the academy's annual policy statement addresses vaccinations.
BRYANT:
New in this year's AAP policy statement, our recommendations for influenza vaccination of immunocompromised children, and that was in response to request from our members' recommendations for improving access to influenza vaccine our emphasize this year.
SILVERS:
Bryant wants public health to continue to support effective messaging and access.
BRYANT:
I think public health can take a leadership role in removing barriers to children and adults accessing flu vaccine. Now, many public health departments offer flu vaccine, but they obviously don't have the capacity to immunize everybody. Public health can partner with stakeholders to support vaccine initiatives throughout the community.
SILVERS:
You can read the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations by using the link in the show notes.
Before we go, ASTHO offers many ways to stay informed on pressing issues in state and territorial public health. Use the link in the show notes to stay up to date on all the latest public health news.
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!
