Following yesterday’s authorization of a second COVID-19 booster dose for ages 50 and older and those with weakened immune systems, new data shows just how much of a difference a booster dose makes. During February, compared to individuals who were fully vaccinated with a booster, unvaccinated people ages 18 and older had: 4.9 times the [...]
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized a second booster dose for those ages 50 and older. They also authorized a second booster for those 12 and older who have weakened immune systems. Vaccines are extremely effective at protecting against severe COVID-19 outcomes, but evidence suggests [...]
You want to feel safe. You want your family to be safe. Are vaccines safe? The simple and important answer is: Oh my yes! What you want to know too is if vaccines actually work, right? The World Health Organization has an answer: “With the exception of clean, safe drinking water, no human endeavor rivals [...]
The past two years have put public health preparedness on center stage as our country grapples with the ongoing pandemic. All the while, we have remained vigilant and prepared for the next unknown challenge facing communities across our state. Public health partners across Arizona have risen to the occasion and have done amazing work responding [...]
Few places are as hot during the long, sizzling summer than the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. That heat has an impact on our health; heat-related issues send nearly 3,000 people to an emergency room each year. A $2 million federal grant to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Extreme Weather and Public Health Program will [...]
With the recent recall of some formula many use to feed infants, finding the right food for your baby may be more difficult than expected. Some families may become frustrated and could be tempted to take matters into their own hands by trying to make their own. Even with the best of intentions or a [...]
As we offer our first weekly COVID-19 Data Dashboard update, showing a continuing decline in cases and other metrics, I want to call attention to some critically important information in two reports linked atop the dashboard: Booster doses dramatically increase protection against COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. Our twice-monthly report on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination [...]
We look forward to offering our first weekly update tomorrow to the ADHS COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Here are some important notes on what you’ll see: Summary Page: With our shift to weekly updates, the Summary page will now show the number of new cases, deaths, and vaccine doses from the previous week’s update to the [...]
ADHS has consistently followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and today’s updated CDC recommendations on mask use are no exception. The CDC’s mask recommendations now vary according to a community level that considers COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and COVID-19’s impact on the local healthcare system. The COVID-19 [...]
As we shared last week, an important change is coming to make our COVID-19 Data Dashboard even more useful. Saturday, Feb. 26, will be our last daily update to the dashboard. Weekly updates will start on Wednesday, March 2. Updating weekly is consistent with other infectious disease reporting and how public health uses data to [...]
