Don Herrington

About Don Herrington

Don Herrington, Interim Director, has been with ADHS since 2000. During this time he has served as the State’s Food Safety Manager, the Office Chief of Environmental Health, Bureau Chief of Epidemiology and Disease Control Services, Acting Assistant Director for Public Health Preparedness, Assistant Director for Public Health Preparedness. Herrington is currently the department’s Deputy Director for Planning and Operations. In this role he oversees policy development, hiring professional and support staff and the department’s budget. During his time in public health, Herrington has served on numerous councils, commissions and committees on behalf of the Director of ADHS, including Chair of the Arizona Sanitarians’ Council, Chair of the Arizona Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee, and as one of five voting members of the Arizona Emergency Response Commission.

Booster targeting latest variants are especially important for older Arizonans

By |2022-09-02T13:36:41-07:00September 2nd, 2022|Preparedness|

Even with COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths declining in recent weeks, it's an inescapable fact that older individuals remain at greatest risk of severe outcomes should they be infected with the current Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.  In the past six months, 81% of Arizona's COVID-19 deaths have been among those 65 and older, while [...]

Comments Off on Booster targeting latest variants are especially important for older Arizonans

Novavax: A new option for first doses of COVID-19 vaccine

By |2022-08-26T11:16:48-07:00August 26th, 2022|Preparedness|

I hope you are among the millions of Arizonans benefiting from the safe and highly effective protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines. With COVID-19 still active in our state, these vaccines and booster doses have been doing a very good job of reducing the chances of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. And on top of that, [...]

Comments Off on Novavax: A new option for first doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Smoking cessation PSAs nominated for Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards

By |2022-08-18T14:32:02-07:00August 18th, 2022|Prevention|

The greatest reward for our Arizona Smokers Helpline (ASHLine) is when someone decides to live their best life free from dependence on nicotine. But it’s always nice to see recognition for the high-quality messaging that helps power this effort.  Three public services announcements produced for ASHLine campaigns were nominated this week for Rocky Mountain Emmy [...]

Comments Off on Smoking cessation PSAs nominated for Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards

Bureau of Vital Records technology benefits Arizonans and our COVID-19 response

By |2022-08-16T10:36:07-07:00August 16th, 2022|General|

While public health is in the business of helping people live healthier lives, ADHS also provides a critical service to families by processing and issuing death certificates.  It’s a mission our Bureau of Vital Records takes very seriously and does very well. We know a death certificate is essential for closing out the affairs of [...]

Comments Off on Bureau of Vital Records technology benefits Arizonans and our COVID-19 response

What you need to know about updated CDC guidance on COVID-19

By |2022-08-12T10:07:36-07:00August 12th, 2022|Preparedness|

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 guidance to focus on reducing the risk of severe illness and, in doing so, minimizing strain on the health care system.  Perhaps the most notable change is eliminating the recommendation that someone isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who [...]

Comments Off on What you need to know about updated CDC guidance on COVID-19

‘Show me the data’: Our monthly update on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status

By |2022-08-03T09:59:42-07:00August 3rd, 2022|Preparedness|

“Show me the data.”  That’s a phrase I hear quite a bit from ADHS epidemiologists, and with good reason: Numbers may be a little difficult to follow sometimes, but they tell a story and they don’t lie.  That’s why our epidemiologists update a report every month showing COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status, including the update [...]

Comments Off on ‘Show me the data’: Our monthly update on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status

Official population estimates help inform public health actions

By |2022-07-26T10:10:54-07:00July 26th, 2022|General|

From a public health perspective, it matters that 9,562 people live in Greenlee County, and that 1 in every 5 Arizonans lives in an unincorporated area. It’s important that health leaders know how many people in Yavapai County are 50 or older, and what the ethnic makeup is for Gila County. That’s why it’s so [...]

Comments Off on Official population estimates help inform public health actions

Seniors: Get your COVID-19 vaccine protection up to date

By |2022-07-21T10:32:05-07:00July 21st, 2022|Preparedness|

COVID-19 has been especially dangerous for older people throughout the pandemic, but data on the current increase in cases provides even more reason for those in this age group to make sure their vaccines are up to date. Compared to the winter surge driven by the Omicron variant, Arizona has since February seen a greater [...]

Comments Off on Seniors: Get your COVID-19 vaccine protection up to date

Ten Arizona counties, including Maricopa, have high COVID-19 community levels

By |2022-07-15T15:15:21-07:00July 15th, 2022|Preparedness|

Community levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have moved up and down in many Arizona counties over the past few weeks. The latest CDC update has 10 counties, including Maricopa, with high COVID-19 community levels. This means masks are recommended for public indoor settings. The other counties with high COVID-19 community [...]

Comments Off on Ten Arizona counties, including Maricopa, have high COVID-19 community levels

Here’s what you can do with the BA.5 subvariant establishing itself in Arizona

By |2022-07-13T10:56:01-07:00July 13th, 2022|Preparedness|

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 accounts for a rapidly growing share of sequenced cases in Arizona — 53% during the week ending July 2 and likely even higher today. Evidence suggests that this version of the virus that causes COVID-19 is better at eluding immune protection offered by vaccination or previous infection.  It’s understandable to be [...]

Comments Off on Here’s what you can do with the BA.5 subvariant establishing itself in Arizona
Go to Top