Health

Montgomery County Releases Population Health Report; Includes Details on MoCo’s Demographic Changes, Leading Causes of Death, and Adolescents Births

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services has released an updated population health report, “Health in Montgomery County 2010-2019”, which includes “data and statistics on major health topics such as demographics and social determinants of health; vital statistics; maternal and infant health; chronic diseases; infectious diseases; behavioral health; injuries; and environmental health” in Montgomery County and how it compares to State and national health outcomes. According to the report, health outcomes in Montgomery County have performed better than state and national averages, but there are “several health conditions with increasing trends and disparities by race/ethnicity, age, sex, and geographic areas that warrant special attention.”

Findings of the report, per Montgomery County: 

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Governor Hogan Encourages Marylanders to Get Boosted This Week to Qualify For $1 Million Vax Cash 2.0 Grand Prize Drawing

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan and state health officials today encouraged Marylanders to get boosted between now and Monday, May 2, to qualify for next week’s VaxCash 2.0 $1 million grand prize drawing.

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MCPS Changes COVID-19 Contact Tracing Procedures

By Patrick Herron

We continue to work in collaboration with our county health partners and, in the event of an identified COVID-19 outbreak, we will conduct contact tracing and inform the school community of additional mitigation strategies, which may include mask-wearing and PCR or rapid testing on-site or at home. We will monitor the number of cases and adjust our strategy to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and communities.

Montgomery County Public Schools

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Novavax Announces Initiation of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Study in Adolescents in Phase 3 PREVENT-19 Trial

By Patrick Herron

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 22, 2022/PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, has initiated administration of the first booster doses of NVX-CoV2373, the company’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, in the pediatric expansion of the PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. The study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of NVX-CoV2373 among trial participants aged 12 through 17.

“We see the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options because we are continuing to monitor spikes in COVID-19,” said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President, Research and Development, Novavax. “The expansion of our PREVENT-19 booster trial into the pediatric population reinforces our commitment to seek to make our vaccine available to a broader population.”

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Novavax’ COVID-19-Influenza Vaccine Trial Shows Feasibility of Combination Vaccine

By Patrick Herron

“We continue to evaluate the dynamic public health landscape and believe there may be a need for recurrent boosters to fight both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza,” said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research and Development, Novavax. “We’re encouraged by these data and the potential path forward for a combination COVID-19-influenza vaccine as well as stand-alone vaccines for influenza and COVID-19.”

The safety and tolerability profile of the combination vaccine was consistent with the stand-alone NVX-CoV2373 and quadrivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine reference formulations in the trial. The combination vaccine was found to be generally well tolerated. Serious adverse were rare and none were assessed as being related to the vaccine.

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CDC Extends Travel Mask Requirement Until May 3rd, Masks Will Continue to be Required on Ride On and Other Public Transportation

By Patrick Herron

The Associated Press is reporting that the CDC will now be extending the mask requirement for travel until May 3rd to “allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.”

Yesterday we reported that residents will no longer be required to wear face coverings when they are passengers on Metro, Metro Bus, Ride-On, and in taxis (including Uber & Lyft) after April 18. That is no longer the case.

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Council to Introduce Resolution That Affirms MoCo’s Support for Public Health Officials After Former Public Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles Resigned After Receiving Threats and Racist/Homophobic Messages

By Patrick Herron

On Tuesday, Council Vice President Evan Glass will introduce a resolution affirming Montgomery County’s support for public health officials. The resolution calls for unity and civil discourse after former health officer Dr. Travis Gayles received threats to his safety, as well as racist and homophobic messages. According to a press release, “two candidates for the vacant Public Health Officer position have declined offers of employment citing the public vitriol and concerns for their safety.”

Back in September, Gayles told WTOP, “unfortunately, public health folks have been made to be the scapegoats or enemies of progress,” when it came to reopening businesses and schools, when “we just want to make sure that people are safe.”

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