Safe and highly effective COVID-19 protection is available, so get boosted for the holidays
COVID-19 deaths remain well below what Arizona has seen during major surges, but the 71 deaths added in today's weekly dashboard update are a grim reminder that COVID-19 is still present and taking lives. I mention this to help highlight some very positive news also added to our dashboard: During October, Arizonans who had received the updated Omicron booster were [...]
Social workers connect Arizona State Hospital patients with community
The Arizona State Hospital (ASH) connects patients with more than highly trained professionals dedicated to providing quality care. It provides a bridge to the community that helps patients continue their wellness journey after they're discharged from the hospital. That's where psychiatric social workers like Gabriela Reyes come in. Reyes and other social workers not only provide services to patients throughout [...]
Annual vaccine can still protect you against influenza this year
No one wants to experience the fever, cough, and body aches that often come with influenza. That's especially true with the holiday season quickly approaching. The good news: You can still get the 2022-23 influenza vaccine for protection against the flu this year. Arizona is experiencing a busy flu season so far. Since the season began in October, there have [...]
There’s no better time to update your protection against COVID-19 and influenza
As you’re preparing for the holidays, now is a great time to add COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations to your to-do list. It takes at least two weeks to build antibody protection after vaccination. Getting your Omicron COVID-19 booster and flu shot now — and you can get both in one visit — means your immune protection can be up to [...]
Amid COVID-19, a seemingly audacious request met a pressing health need
In early 2021, Governor Doug Ducey called on ADHS to open a first-of-its-kind, 24-hour COVID-19 mass-vaccination site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The timeline was bold, even audacious: Have the site up and running in less than a week. But with public safety and health top priorities throughout his tenure, the governor pointed to an urgent problem that required [...]
Eight Arizona counties, including Pima, have high COVID-19 community levels
Eight Arizona counties, including Pima County, have high COVID-19 community levels in the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means masks are recommended for public indoor settings. The other counties with high COVID-19 community levels are Apache, Cochise, Gila, Greenlee, La Paz, Navajo, and Yuma. All other counties, including Maricopa, have medium community levels. [...]