Dr. Carmona: Changing the Narrative Key to Expanding Vaccination Against COVID-19
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, is advising Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The best leaders – presidents, governors, mayors, CEOs – surround themselves with people who will tell them the truth, even when it could be inconvenient. This thought [...]
Prepare to protect your family from potential emergencies
Emergencies can happen without warning. The disastrous flooding around Arizona during this monsoon reminded us of that. September – before the weather turns to winter in the high country and outdoor activities resume in the deserts – is the perfect time to prepare for disasters that can happen at any time. State and federal governments have declared each September as [...]
CDC study: COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective, especially against hospitalization and death
We at ADHS are pleased to have contributed to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report offering a new and very useful way to look at the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in light of rare breakthrough cases among the fully vaccinated. A key takeaway from this report in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: COVID-19 vaccination [...]
CDC launches COVID-19 toolkit for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a toolkit to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their caregivers, learn how to guard against COVID-19. The pandemic has posed extra challenges for members of the disabled community. In April, we at ADHS were proud to partner with Ability360, The Arc, and the Special Olympics, [...]
Passing 19,000 deaths is a somber reminder that COVID-19 is still with us
As of this week, more than 19,000 people in Arizona have died from COVID-19. I grieve for all of them, and for the families and loved ones who endure their loss. Those of us in public health have worked constantly since January 2020 to help Arizonans protect themselves from COVID-19. We take these unfortunate milestones personally, including this week’s. Passing [...]
CDC report: Getting your COVID-19 vaccination helps protect kids
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released today offers more evidence that vaccinating as many eligible people as possible against COVID-19 is a critical part of protecting kids from infection and severe illness. The analysis in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) found that emergency department visits and hospital admissions during two weeks in August [...]