Domestic violence affects thousands across Arizona every year
When you see the color purple during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October – whether that’s on a friend’s shirt or the dome of the State Capitol in Phoenix – keep in mind this shocking fact: Since the start of 2020, an average of two Arizonans have died every week from causes directly related to domestic violence. Through August, there [...]
Urgent CDC Announcement Strongly Recommends Vaccination for Pregnant Women
Waiting on COVID-19 vaccination because you are pregnant creates unnecessary risks for you and for your pregnancy. That’s the focus of an emergency announcement recently from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It points to low vaccination rates among women who are pregnant, who are trying to become pregnant, and who want to get pregnant someday. Recent data [...]
Disease intervention specialists use contact tracing to curb the spread of COVID-19
Today is the 10th annual National Disease Intervention Specialists Recognition Day. This honors healthcare professionals who are crucial in the effort to disrupt the transmission of deadly infectious diseases by connecting people who have been exposed to care and services using a method called contact tracing, which has been vital during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These dedicated specialists work quickly [...]
Dr. Carmona: We Must Come Together to Defeat COVID-19
When I advise Governor Ducey and ADHS on emergency preparedness, including the COVID-19 pandemic, I give the best guidance I can from my perspective as 17th U.S. Surgeon General of the United States. I offer frank opinions and honest assessments, however inconvenient they might be. And that’s what I will do with you as Arizona rightfully focuses its attention on [...]
There’s a Public Health Role in Creating a Weather-Ready Nation
Many issues related to weather can impact your health. Wildfires spawned by lightning can cause respiratory illnesses from smoke and poor air quality. Flash flooding has led to numerous rescues from vehicles and homes. Last year, extreme heat sent at least 2,414 people to Arizona emergency rooms and contributed to 522 deaths. There are many actions you and your family [...]
Pfizer Vaccine Booster Doses: Your Questions Answered
Vaccines continue providing robust protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But federal officials have determined that it is time for members of certain groups, including those 65 and older, to get boosters of the Pfizer vaccine if they are at least six months past their second dose. Here are some quick questions and answers about what’s going on with [...]