Meningococcal Disease in the US
Epidemiology, Prevention and Immunization Guidelines by the CDC 

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:00 pm ET

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ljczrfE6TayruLNH5-86hA

Presenter:  Ferdaus Hassan, Ph.D., Medical Science Liaison (DC/MD/VA) Sanofi Pasteur, U.S. Medical Affairs

Dr. Hassan has extensive professional experience in the areas of vaccine and virus research and has published more than 50 research articles in peer reviewed journals. He is a strong advocate and passionate about vaccines and believes that no one should suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Presentation Objectives:

1) Discuss epidemiology of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitis in the US. 

2) Discuss mode of transmission and risk factors associated with meningococcal infection

3) Discuss Men ACWY and Men B vaccination coverage among adolescents 

4) Discuss CDC/ACIP meningococcal vaccine recommendation

Please join us on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 12:00pm EST for a VPHA Virtual Town Hall. We will update members on the association's activities and goals for this year. We also want to hear your feedback on how the association can best serve members and improve public health in Virginia.

Register for the Virtual Town Hall here!

Sincerely,

Ashley Tharpe, MA, MPH, EdD, CHES
President, VPHA
T: (434) 592-6163
aahudson@liberty.edu
www.vapha.org

Are you a policy wonk? Do you love all things policy related? Have we got an opportunity for you!

The Council of Affiliates (CoA) is looking for volunteers to review APHA’s proposed policy statements. The purpose of the review is to consider how useful the proposed policies will be to Affiliates and/or Affiliate members at the state/local level. Other individuals will review the policies through a scientific/subject matter expertise lens.

For those who are interested in reviewing, more details are below:

·        Eligibility: To review, you must be an Affiliate member.

·        Timeline: Policies will be sent to you between February 26-28, 2021 (with a review form). Completed reviews will be due March 19, 2021 so you will have ~3 weeks to review.

·        Number of policies/time commitment: The number of policies you will be asked to review will vary depending on how many proposals APHA receives and how many reviewers the CoA recruits but we will strive to send you a maximum of 3-5 proposals. This task should take less than 5 hours (and likely less time).   

To volunteer, please send you name and email address to Moose Alperin (moose.alperin@emory.edu) by February 19. You will get a confirmation email within 48 hours.

I am pleased to announce that the application deadline has been extended to Friday, October 23, 5:00pm PT, for the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH).

Now in its 10^th year, NLAPH helps teams of leaders from diverse sectors including health, housing, education, transportation, and law enforcement to build their capacity to transform their communities, improve health, and advance equity. Agile leadership is more important than ever in these uncertain times. We need leaders who can adapt to real world events, such as COVID-19. And we need leaders who can advance racial justice with thoughtfulness, in partnership with their communities, to create a more equitable future. NLAPH gives participants the skills and training required to be agile leaders who can more effectively respond to today’s needs and meet tomorrow’s challenges.

I encourage communities engaged in cross-sector work to apply to NLAPH today. For details about benefits, eligibility, and requirements, please visit our website.

Sincerely,

Carmen R. Nevarez, MD, MPH, Center Director

Karya Lustig, Deputy Director

Center for Health Leadership and Practice

Public Health Institute

Oakland, CA

info@healthleadership.org

www.healthleadership.org

Read our flyer for more information, and visit our website to apply.

August is Immunization Awareness Month in Virginia!

We need your help to bring attention to Governor Ralph Northam’s recent proclamation naming August Immunization Awareness Month. As you know, immunization rates are down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, schools in Virginia are still requiring that students be immunized before the start of the school year, even while remote.

Please click the images below to find easily downloadable messages and images that can be shared on social media to that help raise awareness of immunization requirements and urge your social media followers to ensure they are up to date on the recommended vaccine schedule.

For materials in Spanish please reach out to Rebecca Epstein at repstein@institutephi.org.

Thank you,

Rebecca Epstein

ImmunizeVA Coalition Manager

ImmunizeVA is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation in partnership with Virginia Department of Health. 

The Contact Tracer is an entry level public health professional responsible for identifying and contacting individuals who may have come in contact with persons recently diagnosed with an infectious disease associated with an outbreak or pandemic.

The incumbent is responsible for gathering details about each contact of an ill individual (case) identified during the course of a public health case investigation. Information collected for each contact includes, but is not limited to: basic demographics, potential exposures to known case(s), current health status (including an assessment for current symptoms consistent with illness), and screening for membership in a high risk group (e.g., healthcare workers, residents of congregate care settings).

Contact tracers provide education about the disease, deliver guidance on minimizing the risk of potential transmission from the contact to others in the event the contact become ill, and explain the necessity for the contact to quarantine responsibly in order to reduce the risk of transmission of illness to others. The contact tracer also details specific processes for contacts to conduct health monitoring, and refers contacts for testing according to established protocols.  

Contact tracers collaborate with Epidemiologists and Health Educators by providing up to date data from contact tracing calls. The employee follows established policies and procedures for all contact tracing functions and activities.

• An understanding of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality (e.g., to those who might overhear their conversations).

• Excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that they can build and maintain trust with patients and contacts.

• Resourcefulness in locating patients and contacts who may be difficult to reach or reluctant to engage in conversation.

• Understanding of when to refer individuals or situations to medical, social, or supervisory resources.

• Cultural competency appropriate to the local community.

• Understanding of the medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.

• Basic skills of crisis counseling, and the ability to confidently refer patients and contacts for further care if needed.

• Knowledge of or coursework in medical terminology.

Apply at: https://www.gatewayhealthpros.com/

Commonwealth of Virginia

Health Director, Eastern Shore Health District

This District Health Director position will be based out of the Town of Accomac, Virginia, the County seat of Accomack County, one of two Eastern Shore Counties totaling approximately 47,000 citizens. The “Shore”, as it is known, has a deep, rich, history and exudes small town charm.  Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, it is a very pleasant place to live. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) invites you to apply for the position of District Health Director, providing needed public health leadership.

The District Health Director will direct all medical, nursing, environmental health, administrative, and other public health services in the district, one of 35 local health districts in Virginia. This position will manage the Eastern Shore District out of the Accomack office, a coverage area of two counties separated from the mainland, with two populated islands, one of which is not accessible by car. A critical component of the job will be overseeing interdisciplinary staff with efforts directed toward community assessment and health education, program design, program evaluation, resource allocation, quality of patient care, environmental protection, and inter-agency organization of health-related activities. The District Health Director will serve as a community resource on communicable disease issues and health risk reduction. The doctor may be required to provide direct care in a clinic environment with examinations, diagnosis, treatment and prescribing medications. Applicants must be licensed in Virginia to practice medicine. Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health and clinical medicine are required. Minimum qualifications include the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, being skilled in all aspects of administering public health programs, and experience directing a large and diverse organization in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will have the ability to effectively work independently and as a member of a team when appropriate, work with the media, and lead change in the workplace.

A doctorate in medicine is required and it is preferred that candidates have a MPH degree. It is required that the District Health Director be licensed to practice medicine in Virginia. It is highly desired that the doctor have a background in epidemiology and preferably a certificate in Preventative Medicine. The ideal candidate will have strong data analysis skills. A minimum of ten (10) or more years’ experience is desired and should have at least five (5) years’ experience in an executive management and supervisory position. Previous experience and training in public health and working with government officials is also highly desired.

The hiring salary will be up to $167,000. Benefits include, but are not limited to, participation in the Virginia Retirement System, vacation and sick leave, group life insurance, medical and dental insurance, professional dues and conference expenses.

Qualified candidates should submit their cover letter and résumé online by visiting our website at https://springsted-waters.recruitmenthome.com/postings/2261. This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply no later than March 29, 2019. Following this date, applications will be screened against criteria outlined in this brochure. On-site interviews with the VDH will be offered to those candidates named as finalists, with reference checks, background checks and academic verifications conducted after receiving candidates’ consent.  For more information, please contact Steve Miner at richmond@springsted.com or (804) 726-9748. 

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, can happen to people of all ages. It is especially a common issue among aging adults because they have a more likely chance to have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Examples of traumatic events that could lead to PTSD include military combat, a bad car accident, the unexpected death of a loved one, serious illness or injury to self or someone close, and sexual assault, to name a few.

This guide will account for PTSD among aging adults, veterans, and older homeless people. See what experts have to say about the subject, and learn more about the causes and symptoms of PTSD and how the condition can be treated.

Disclaimer: We are not doctors. This is for informational purposes only. As always, we suggest speaking to a medical professional to determine how to best address your specific situation.

Click here to learn more: PTSD Among Aging Adults