Health Archives - Page 3 of 23

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.

Health

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).

Health

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.

Health

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.”

Health

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.”

Health

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.

Health

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.”

Health

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.”

Health

Governor Hogan Declares August as Immunization Awareness Month, State of Maryland Has Administered Nearly 12.7 Million COVID-19 Vaccines

By Patrick Herron

Published August 1, 2022 at 12:41PM

Read the governor’s Immunization Awareness Month proclamation .

“The dominant BA.5 subvariant is a reminder of how important it is for Marylanders to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, as well as routine immunizations,” said Governor Hogan. “Through our COVIDReady Maryland plan, we will continue to maximize all of the available tools and treatments for preventing severe illness, and maintaining a state of readiness so that we are prepared to respond to emerging waves and variants.”

Health

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

By Patrick Herron

Published July 26, 2022 at 11:07AM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today announced $10 million in block and competitive grant awards to help support programs around the state to address the opioid crisis. The grant funding, which will be distributed between July 2022 and June 2023, will be used to support the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s policy priorities of Prevention & Education, Enforcement & Public Safety, and Treatment & Recovery.

“Our administration has made it a top priority to put the resources and support systems in place at every level to expand access to treatment, and combat the heroin and opioid crisis,” said Governor Hogan. “These grants play a critical role in supporting the local and grassroots work taking place in our communities and health care systems to save lives and promote healing.”

Health

Montgomery County’s First Substance Use Disorder Recovery Community Drop-in Center to Open Later This Month

By Patrick Herron

Published July 25, 2022 at 9:10AM

“Tree of Hope was born out of a passion to bring hope and healing to those who struggle with addiction and the stigma of recovery, and a commitment to provide those in the recovery community with the support and resources they need to succeed as productive, contributing members of their communities” says LaTonia Rich, Executive Director of Tree of Hope Association.

Meghan Westwood, Executive Director of Maryland Treatment Centers and a long-time partner of Tree of Hope states that, “Maryland Treatment Centers has had the honor of partnering with Tree of Hope for years to ensure that people in early recovery understand their courage, resiliency and value to the community. Tree of Hope has been a leader in peer leadership for those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and has made incredible strides in combating the stigma that poses such a barrier to success. This new drop-in center will be a welcoming place to go, without judgment, to find like-minded individuals, with lived experience, to provide mentorship and support. Under the leadership of Latonia and Bunny Rich, Tree of Hope has created the gold standard in recovery support services.”