Vermont Public Health Association

Some great resources and trainings at Public Health Communications Collaborative. Check out this upcoming event: Developing a Response Plan to Misinformation in Public Health.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Developing a Response Plan to Misinformation in Public Health. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Accurate and timely health information is being shared in an increasingly complex environment. With false and misleading health narratives on the rise, public health communicators must navigate community distrust on top of rapidly changing information in the digital age. False narratives have unique...

A sheriff in Maine is helping prisoners addicted to have a better chance at recovery. How? Extended release buprenorphine shots.

How a Maine County Jail Helped Prisoners Blunt Opioid Cravings A sheriff fought to give prisoners addicted to opioids a shot that suppresses cravings for a month. Upon release, they were more likely to continue treatment.

The movement to ban smartphone in Vermont schools is gaining some momentum: https://buff.ly/3XsTvd4

Ever wonder what ancient Egyptian scribes share with modern office workers? Unfortunately for both groups - pain and injury from poor ergonomics.

"... the scribes almost always exhibited a higher incidence of conditions such as osteoarthritis, in which joint tissues break down over time, the researchers discovered. The condition was found in joints connecting the lower jaw to the skull, the right collarbone, the right shoulder, the right thumb, the right knee and the spine — especially in the neck."

https://buff.ly/3M9CCOb

The state's motel room limits for houseless individuals is starting to kick-in. Where will program participants go? Making someone leave needed housing brings great focus to the work still to be done.

Vermont’s new motel room limits are primed to push out hundreds of households this fall - VTDigger Many households will run out of allotted days in their motel and hotel rooms this fall. And a new statewide room cap is prompting officials to prioritize who gets a spot as space is limited.

As the school year kicks off in Vermont, Champlain Valley Union School District is considering a phone-free future. "The research is pretty clear about the impact of cell phone use and social media on student mental health, in addition to that, just the impact of distraction on our learners. It’s important for our learners to be present.”

Champlain Valley School district considers phone-free future - VTDigger The district is currently without an overarching phone use policy, leaving it up to school principals to set standards.

Narcan saves lives, but some colleges are afraid of the optics of making the medication widely available on campus.
https://buff.ly/3WI8bDp

Looking for a way to get involved in shaping the future of public health in Vermont?

The Vermont Department of Health is looking for workgroup participants to help create the state's new Health Improvement Plan. Public participation is encouraged.

More information about the Plan here: https://buff.ly/46ZUhBp
Link to sign up for the working groups here: https://buff.ly/46TGKeH

State Health Assessment and Improvement Plan | Vermont Department of Health The Vermont State Health Assessment is our update on what we know about the health status of Vermonters. It provides vital data for examining health inequities by race and ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status and geography.

Heat is putting our medications at risk. This New York Times article highlights the potential dangers of heat exposure on medications delivered by mail-order pharmacies. Here are some key takeaways:

- Potential loss of effectiveness or increased risk: Heat can degrade medications, making them less effective or even harmful. Liquid medications and inhalers seem particularly vulnerable.
- Extreme temperatures during delivery: Mail trucks can reach scorching temperatures (up to 150°F) exceeding safe storage ranges for many medications (68-77°F).
- Packaging concerns: Most mail-order shipments use basic packaging with little to no temperature control. "Special" packaging is sometimes used, but its effectiveness is unclear.
- Patient experiences: Several patients reported receiving potentially heat-damaged medications and experiencing health issues afterward.
- Lack of regulation: The FDA doesn't regulate mail-order drug transportation temperatures, leaving it to individual states. Attempts to implement stricter rules have faced resistance from pharmacy lobbyists.
- A growing issue: With rising temperatures and increased use of mail-order drugs, this problem could worsen.

Hot Summer Threatens Efficacy of Mail-Order Medications The temperatures inside delivery trucks can reach twice the recommended threshold, but federal rules on drug storage conditions do not apply to the booming world of mail-order delivery.

WHO declares 2024 mpox surge a 'public health emergency of international concern'

WHO declares 2024 mpox surge a 'public health emergency of international concern' "What we're seeing is tip of the iceberg" because of weaknesses in the surveillance system, says Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO's emergency committee.

No longer an epidemic, COVID-19 now considered endemic by the CDC. https://buff.ly/3YGke75

We know vaccines play a critical role in keeping communities healthy - but what about their fiscal impacts?

Childhood Vaccines Aren’t Just Saving Lives. They’re Saving Money. Over the past three decades, routine immunizations have prevented 1.1 million deaths and saved the United States $540 billion, the C.D.C. estimated.

Congratulations to Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth for breaking ground on needed affordable housing in Burlington. The effort and coordination needed to pull this off is intense.

"Executing the project hasn’t been easy. It relies on 19 different funding sources, including federal tax credits and coronavirus relief money. The city chipped in close to $422,000 from its Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing projects. Another $1.6 million in state and federal brownfields money paid to remediate contaminated soils."

How do we scale up efforts like this? How do we ensure other communities around the state have access to affordable housing?

Nonprofits Break Ground on Affordable Housing in Burlington Champlain Housing Trust's 38-unit complex on South Winooski Avenue will include apartments for homeless veterans.

There is no health without housing - and this article in VTDigger highlights the urgent need for more shelter beds in Chittenden County, particularly as the state-run motel program winds down.

It's clear that Chittenden County can't shoulder this burden alone. We need a coordinated, statewide approach to address homelessness. Let's work together to find solutions that provide safe and stable housing for all Vermonters.

Chittenden County is in dire need of shelter beds. Who's going to run them? - VTDigger With Burlington shouldering the burden as the state-run motel program winds down, the city is looking to its neighbors for help.

Thank you to Beth Stern and Jill Center in the Office of U.S. Senator Bernie SandersSanders for meeting with VtPHA ED Daniel Olson and board members Molly Lawrence + Burton Wilcke today. The discussion was a great opportunity for VtPHA to 1) share our understanding of Vermont’s persistent and emerging public health challenges 2) convey the federal policy priorities of our national partner, the American Public Health Association, and 3) learn more about Senator Sanders’ priorities in DC.

Senator Sanders has consistently demonstrated a commitment to supporting public health and public health legislation. Some key topics from our discussion included:

1. COVID-19 and the Long Covid Research Moonshot Act
2. Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
3. Rural health care and health care access
4. Health care and prescription drug costs
5. Public health workforce shortages

In addition, VtPHA was able to highlight the work of the Vermont Department of Health and their recently completed State Health Assessment, an important document that helps the public health community focus resources on the topics of greatest need.

We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his office on improving the health of all Vermonters.

VT has the second highest rate of homelessness in the country. Given the importance of housing to health - what are we doing to care for our unhoused neighbors?

Chittenden County is in dire need of shelter beds. Who's going to run them? - VTDigger With Burlington shouldering the burden as the state-run motel program winds down, the city is looking to its neighbors for help.

Perspectives on when to get your next Covid shot:

Should You Get Another Covid Shot Now? The virus is spreading, but new vaccines coming this fall could offer better protection. We asked experts about the right time for a booster.

Vermont Department of Health is reporting an increase of pertussis activity in Windham County, Vermont.

Since July 24, 2024, all but 3 of the 13 reported cases are among unvaccinated individuals.

Here are some resources provided by VT DOH for more information on pertussis:

Pertussis (Vermont Department of Health)
https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/other-reportable-diseases/whooping-cough-pertussis

VDHL Instructions for Collection and Packaging of Nasopharyngeal Specimens for Bordetella PCR and/or Culture (Vermont Department of Health)https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/PHL_Micro412-Bordetella-Instructions.pdf

Best Practices for Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction for Diagnosing Pertussis (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/php/pcr-bestpractices/

Clinical Overview of Pertussis (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html

Treatment of Pertussis (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/hcp/clinical-care/index.html

Recommended Antimicrobial Agents for the Treatment and Postexposure Prophylaxis of Pertussis (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5414a1.htm

Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/hcp/vaccine-recommendations/index.html

Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations CDC recommends pertussis vaccines for infants, children, adolescents, and people who are pregnant.

Thank you to Ena Backus in Senator Peter Welch's office for an insightful and productive meeting today. Ena took time to meet with VtPHA staff and board members to hear more about the state's public health priorities and the federal priorities of our national partner - the American Public Health Association.

Peter Welch has consistently demonstrated a commitment to supporting public health and public health legislation. Some key topics from our discussion included:

1. Rural health care and health care access
2. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Climate Change and Health Equity
3. The opioid epidemic
4. Pharmacy deserts
5. The cost of living

In addition, VtPHA was able to highlight the work of the Vermont Department of Health and their recently completed State Health Assessment, an important document that helps the public health community focus resources on the topics of greatest need.

We look forward to continuing to work with Peter Welch and his office on improving the health of all Vermonters.

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Is Vermont's drink-driving Blood Alcohol Content level too high?

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much for a Driver? Experts argue the U.S. drunk-driving limit is too high.

"The United States has no coherent system for providing long-term care, leading many who are aging to struggle to stay independent or to rely on a patchwork of solutions."

Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care The United States has no coherent system for providing long-term care, leading many who are aging to struggle to stay independent or to rely on a patchwork of solutions.

Bird flu cases going undetected due to poor surveillance.

Bird flu cases among farm workers may be going undetected, a study suggests Dairy workers in Texas show signs of prior, uncounted bird flu infections in a new study. Without better surveillance, researchers warn that health officials could be caught off guard if the virus gets more contagious.

"The decades-long opioid crisis that started with the proliferation of prescription painkillers has hit the construction sector especially hard. Among occupations, no workforce category has a higher rate of fatal drug overdose — or even comes close."

Construction sector struggles with opioid overdose deaths People who work in construction get hurt on the job more often than other U.S. workers. Beyond the physical strain, they have the nation’s highest occupational rates for falls, slips and trips. The often-painful aftermath puts them at risk for another deadly hazard: opioid misuse.

Certified behaviors health clinics expanding in the US. "The CCBHC model provides crisis services that are available 24/7, comprehensive behavioral services in a single location, and care navigation among health and social services so that patients do not fall through the cracks."

Certified behavioral health clinics expanding across US Behavioral health services have been in short supply for years in the U.S., something that became even more apparent during the high-stress early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

American Academy of Pediatrics study highlights the overuse of infant tongue-tie surgeries. "One study estimated an 800 percent rise in the number of tongue-tie procedures between 1997 and 2012."

Pediatricians Warn Against Overuse of Tongue-Tie Surgeries In a new report, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that breastfeeding problems were rarely caused by infant tongue-ties.