Health Archives - Page 4 of 23

Published July 25, 2022 at 7:59AM

“988 is an easy-to-remember number and an incredibly fast way to get anyone who experiences a behavioral health crisis the help they need right away,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “In addition, in Maryland, we are integrating 988 into our existing and expanding crisis system support network.”

Suicide was a leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 years in 2020, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Moreover, from April 2020 to 2021, over 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses in the U.S.

Beyond MoCo

World Health Organization Declares Monkey Pox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency

By Patrick Herron

Published July 23, 2022 at 12:35PM

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the spread of monkeypox to be a global health emergency, its highest alert designation, just days after Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services announced that they had received a limited number of monkeypox vaccine doses that will only be offered to a limited number of eligible residents who are at highest risk of contracting the virus.

According to NBC News, the designation means the WHO “now views the outbreak as a significant enough threat to global health that a coordinated international response is needed to prevent the virus from spreading further and potentially escalating into a pandemic.” So far there have been more than 2,500 monkeypox cases reported across the United States.

Health

Health Officials from the County Department of Health and Human Services to Offer Monkeypox Vaccine to Limited Number of At-Risk Residents

By Patrick Herron

Published July 20, 2022 at 8:28PM

Residents who are identified by public health officials as close contacts of current monkeypox cases will be offered vaccination. Public health staff from the County’s sexual health programs will be working with community-based non-profit organizations to identify residents who could be at risk and are contacting them directly to offer an opportunity to be vaccinated. As vaccine supply increases, additional residents who are at-risk will be identified and offered vaccination.

Currently, monkeypox vaccinations will be limited to:

Health

Montgomery County Health Officials Release COVID-19 Epidemiology Surveillance Report

By Patrick Herron

Published July 12, 2022 at 5:14PM

The report provides statistics and epidemiology profiles of COVID-19, including infections, testing, hospitalization, deaths, vaccinations, outbreaks and contact tracing. According to the CDC’s COVID-19 community level map, as of March 2022, when the report’s data were last updated, transmission in Montgomery County was in the “low” category. As of late June, the transmission level in the community is in the “medium” category. This is likely to change as new variants and sub-lineages continue to evolve over time.

“Montgomery County fares better than the State and national averages for most indicators related to COVID-19, but vulnerable population subgroups and communities disproportionally impacted by the pandemic remain a top priority to address through the lens of social determinants,” said acting County Health Officer James Bridgers. “Our goal is to implement the evidence-based and data-driven approaches to enhance our programs and services to respond to the pandemic proactively to meet the public health needs of Montgomery County.”

Health

County Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Children 6 Months to 5 Years, But Supplies Are Limited

By Patrick Herron

Published July 4, 2022 at 7:53AM

DHHS will be making vaccines available by appointment for this age group. Information will be updated daily at www.GoVaxMoCo.com. When vaccine supply is available, new appointments will be posted at 3 p.m. at www.GoVaxMoco.com.

““It is good news that this last age group is now eligible to receive their vaccine doses,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We know that many parents are anxious to get their babies and young children vaccinated as quickly as possible. As we have seen with previous vaccine rollouts, we expect great demand over the next couple of weeks for these vaccines with limited supply available. Because the majority of the vaccines are going to private pediatric providers, we encourage all parents to check with their pediatrician’s office before using our website to sign up for an appointment. I am grateful for the preparation, planning and outreach efforts from DHHS and our community partners to ensure equitable access to these vaccines. Getting vaccinated and boosted is important to our COVID mitigation efforts, and we continue to encourage everyone to make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations.”

Health

Maryland Attorney General Frosh and National Coalition of Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement Reaffirming Commitment to Protecting Access to Abortion Care

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2022 at 1:09PM

“Abortion care is healthcare. Period. We stand together, as our states’ chief law officers, to proudly say that we will not back down in the fight to protect the rights of pregnant people in our states and across the country. While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision reverses nearly half a century of legal precedent and undermines the rights of people across the United States, we’re joining together to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care nationwide.

“While this is a perilous moment for our nation, it is a moment that calls for action. Our promise to our residents is simple: We’ll never stop defending your rights. Regardless of the decision in Dobbs, broad access to abortion remains protected in states that recognize reproductive freedom, such as ours. We refuse to go back to the days of politicians trying to tell people what to do with their bodies. When it comes to abortion care, it’s your body and your right to choose. Nobody else gets to make those decisions.

Health

All Marylanders Six Months and Older Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine

By Patrick Herron

Published June 22, 2022 at 9:53AM

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for Marylanders six months and older, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Visit https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ for information on vaccine clinics in Montgomery County.

“We welcome having COVID-19 vaccines to help protect our youngest Marylanders against severe illness, hospitalization, or even death from this virus and strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their children,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “We have been preparing to receive these COVID-19 vaccines and, utilizing our vast network of pediatricians, family practitioners, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, and local health departments, will begin distributing them equitably across the state right away.”

Beyond MoCo

CDC to End COVID-19 Test Requirements for International Air Travelers This Sunday

By Patrick Herron

Published June 10, 2022 at 11:36AM

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer require international travelers coming to the U.S. to provide a negative COVID-19 test result, according to CNN. The change will go into effect at midnight on June 12. The requirement has been in place since January 2021. A formal announcement is expected today from the White House.

The Associated Press reports that the CDC determined that the requirement is no longer necessary and that the agency would “reevaluate the need for the testing requirement every 90 days and that it could be reinstated if a troubling new variant emerges.”

Health

Governor Hogan Announces COVIDReady Maryland to Guide Long-Term Preparedness Efforts

By Patrick Herron

Published June 9, 2022 at 8:06PM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced COVIDReady Maryland, the state’s long-term preparedness plan to maximize the tools and treatments available to keep people healthy and out of the hospital, and maintain a state of readiness to respond to emerging variants and potential waves. The plan, which emphasizes infrastructure, awareness, and adaptability, builds on the successful data-driven strategies that the state implemented throughout the pandemic.

“Our state public health response has now fully transitioned from an emergency into an ongoing operation of state government,” said Governor Hogan. “As the next phase of our nation-leading response and recovery, we are announcing our COVIDReady Maryland plan to maximize all of the available tools and treatments for preventing severe illness and keeping people from being hospitalized, and to maintain an ongoing state of readiness over the long term so that we are prepared to respond to any emerging variants and any potential waves or surges.”

Germantown

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Will Offer a Free Community-Based Diabetes Self-Management Program at Germantown Library on June 22.

By Patrick Herron

Published June 3, 2022 at 1:58PM

The Diabetes Self-Management Program was created at Stanford University and is a nationally recognized diabetes prevention and management program. The program covers the physical aspect of managing diabetes, as well as the emotional aspect and is designed to improve an individual’s A1C and reduce complications associated with diabetes.

The program has demonstrated proven health benefits and complements the diabetic medical management services people receive from their providers. Participants will enhance their ability to maintain active and fulfilling lifestyles, improve problem-solving and decision-making skills and address the challenges of living with diabetes. Workshop topics include improving food choices, increasing physical activity and practicing coping skills to maintain nutrition and a healthy weight.

Gaithersburg

Gaitherburg Based Novavax Initiates Phase 3 Trial of its COVID-19 Omicron Strain Vaccine as a Booster

By Patrick Herron

Published June 2, 2022 at 9:07AM

Per Novavax:

Novavax today announced the initiation of its Phase 3 strain change trial to determine if its Omicron variant specific vaccine, NVX-CoV2515 (Omicron BA.1 strain), induces superior antibody responses against the Omicron variant compared to its Wuhan prototype vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, in participants who have received either a primary (two doses) or booster (three doses) series of an mRNA vaccine. The trial will also seek to determine the antibody responses to a bivalent vaccine, containing both NVX-CoV2373 and NVX-CoV2515, administered in participants who have received a booster series of an mRNA vaccine.