Health Archives - Page 29 of 49

COVID-19 Update from the MCPS Medical Officer

Published September 16, 2022 at 12:54PM

The following message was released by MCPS Medical Officer Patricia Kapunan, M.D., MPH on Friday, September 16:

Thank you to our staff and families for continuing to test when they have symptoms or after a possible exposure, for using the online tool to report positive COVID-19 test results, and for following CDC isolation guidelines. Core health strategies like staying home when sick and good hand-washing are also important for limiting the spread of infection. As our schedules get busier, remember the basics—rest, good nutrition and staying active all help to keep students healthy and ready to learn.

COVIDReady Maryland: State Expands Fall Outreach Campaign For COVID-19 Bivalent Boosters

By Patrick Herron

Published September 13, 2022 at 2:26PM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the state continues to expand its COVIDReady campaign to encourage Marylanders to maximize their protection against COVID-19 and the flu this fall and winter.

The bivalent boosters—which contain “tools” (spike proteins of the virus) to target the original COVID-19 virus as well as its omicron variants—are available at more than 850 pharmacies, clinics, and local health departments statewide. Find a clinic at covidvax.maryland.gov or by calling 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Montgomery County to Host Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Monkeypox on Monday, Sept. 12, With Focus on Latino Community

By Patrick Herron

Published September 7, 2022 at 9:03AM

Panelists in the town hall will include the Latino Health Initiative’s Luis Aguirre, Proyecto Salud’s Executive Director Cesar Palacios, Acting County Health Officer James Bridgers and the County Department of Health and Human Services’ Director Raymond Crowel. The panel discussion will be moderated by Lorna Virgilí, the County’s Hispanic public information officer.

The panelists will provide an update on the current monkeypox situation in Montgomery County and Maryland. They will provide information on the County’s monkeypox vaccine program and answer questions about prevention and treatment.

Montgomery County Announces Abortion Access Grants to Community Organizations and Service Providers

By Patrick Herron

Published September 1, 2022 at 4:02PM

Resolution 19-1357 provides grant awards from $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000 for an up to one year (12 month) performance period for the County’s FY 2023 Abortion, Reproductive Health, and Related Services Access (ARHRSA) grants program. The target population for the grants are organizations that help women seeking access to abortion, reproductive health, and related services as well as the staff providing these services.

“As soon as the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked in May, we knew that our reproductive rights and abortion providers were going to need additional support and we announced our intention to provide $1 million in County aid through grants to these organizations,” said County Executive Erich. “I am very pleased that we were able to get this grant process up and running so quickly and appreciate the work and input of the County Council, the Department of Health and Human Services and our new Office of Grants Management. These funds will help the women served by caring and compassionate organizations who are protecting their rights, their health, and their choices.”

FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose

By Patrick Herron

Published September 1, 2022 at 11:32AM

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to be used as a booster dose. According to the FDA, these vaccines “include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.”

Regarding availability in Montgomery County, the Department of Health and Human Services tweeted: “Once the vaccines receive final approval from @CDCgov, we must wait for vaccine supply and written guidance from @MDHealthDept. We will keep you posted.”

Governor Hogan Honors International Overdose Awareness Day, Flags Flown at Half-Staff to Commemorate Lives Lost to Drug Overdoses

By Patrick Herron

Published August 31, 2022 at 10:20AM

“The disease of addiction affects all Maryland communities, and I invite all Marylanders to join me in honoring the lives we have lost to this crisis,” said Governor Hogan. “It is also important that we lift up the stories of those in recovery. We know that treatment and recovery works, and it is my sincerest hope raising awareness will help others on their recovery journeys.”

This evening, Government House in Annapolis will be lit purple this evening to mark the occasion. Governor Hogan also issued a proclamation recognizing September as Substance Use Disorder Recovery Month.

Community Message from the MCPS Medical Officer Regarding COVID-19

By Patrick Herron

Published August 25, 2022 at 11:20AM

Montgomery County Public schools sent out the following community message from MCPS Medical Officer Patricia Kapunan, M.D. on Thursday, August 25:

Vaccines are an important way to lower individual risk of severe complications from COVID-19 infection. A high vaccine coverage rate helps reduce the overall burden of COVID-19 on the school community and helps keep learning going, as individuals with milder symptoms will miss fewer school or work days. We continue to strongly recommend students receive all recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for which they are eligible. At this time, COVID-19 vaccination is required for staff unless approved for a medical exemption. We will continue to provide opportunities for students, staff and family members to receive COVID-19 vaccines atafter-school and weekend events.

Montgomery County Health Officials to Host First in a Series of Virtual Town Halls on Monkeypox; Monday, Aug. 22, Meeting to Focus on LGBTQ+ Community

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2022 at 5:04PM

Panelists in the town hall will include Acting County Health Officer James Bridgers; Council Vice President Glass; the County’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison Amena Johnson; infectious disease specialist Jessica Rosen, a physician with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); and DHHS Director Raymond Crowel.

The panelists will provide an update on the current Monkeypox situation in Montgomery County and Maryland, as well as share information on the County’s monkeypox vaccine program and answer questions about prevention and treatment.

Gaithersburg Based Novavax Announces Initiation of Phase 2b/3 Hummingbird Global Clinical Trial for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged Six Months Through 11 Years

By Patrick Herron

Published August 5, 2022 at 12:26PM

“We are excited to begin the Hummingbird trial to study Nuvaxovid’s efficacy in children as young as six months through age 11,” said Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. “With a successful trial, we may have the opportunity to offer our COVID-19 vaccine to all age groups aged six months and older for protection against this ongoing pandemic.”

The trial will assess the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in infants (six through 23 months of age), toddlers (two through five years) and children (six through 11 years). The trial is an age de-escalation trial and age groups will be tested sequentially. Participants have begun dosing in the six to 11-year-old age group. The trial will also have sentinel cohorts in each age group and cohort progression and age-de-escalation will occur after safety review.

Officials Launch Online Preregistration Survey for Monkeypox (MPX) Vaccine While Supplies Remain Limited

By Patrick Herron

Published August 4, 2022 at 3:10PM | Updated August 4, 2022 at 7:00PM

As of Aug. 4, there are 6,617 confirmed MPX cases in the United States and 157 cases in Maryland.

“We know that residents are concerned about MPX, and we continue to support the Maryland Department of Health’s effort to receive more vaccine supply from the federal government,” said Dr. James Bridgers, acting County Health Officer. “As with the early days of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, there is more demand for vaccination than there is supply. The preregistration system will help us identify those who are eligible for vaccination and provides us a way to contact them when vaccine doses are available.”

Update on Maryland’s Response to Human Monkeypox Outbreak

By Patrick Herron

Published August 2, 2022 at 2:23PM

“Since before our first monkeypox case was identified, the state has been mounting an aggressive response to this outbreak in coordination with local and regional partners,” said Governor Hogan. “While vaccine supply from the federal government is severely limited at this time, anyone who believes that they may need testing or treatment should contact their healthcare provider or local health department immediately. We will keep pressing the federal government to provide more vaccines to the states and do all we can to make resources available to those at risk.”

“We want to emphasize that the goal is limiting the spread of the virus and vaccinating those who may have been exposed in the prior two weeks,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan. “Due to the limited supply of the vaccine from the federal government, the state is working closely with local health partners to make doses available in a manner that focuses on locations that have case counts and higher-risk populations. We plan to expand access to the vaccine as more supply becomes available.”