As Arizona Passes 1 Million Cases, the Fight Continues Against COVID-19
As incoming interim director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, it’s my privilege and solemn responsibility to succeed Dr. Cara Christ, who has so capably led Arizona’s COVID-19 response. I’m honored to be part of the team she has built -- talented professionals working nonstop to promote public health amid a global pandemic. It’s a testament to Dr. Christ’s [...]
Plans for Vaccine Booster Shots from Pfizer and Moderna Being Finalized Now by FDA, CDC
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that it has developed a plan to begin offering booster shots this fall for those who have received the Pfizer/Comirnaty and Moderna vaccines to protect against COVID-19. It anticipates boosters as well for those who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, but that information will come later because [...]
CDC strengthens recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy
Among the #VaxFacts videos we launched last week is one noting there’s no evidence that getting vaccinated can affect your fertility. Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has strengthened its recommendation that pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19. This is based on a new analysis of current data that found no increase in risk of miscarriage among [...]
Federal officials recommend third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose for those with weakened immune systems
The federal government has authorized a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for people with weakened immune systems. This important news applies to Arizonans with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. These individuals are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, and an additional vaccine dose for them could help prevent serious illness and death. A recent study suggested that [...]
We’re here to help you get #VaxFacts
If unanswered questions or claims you’re seeing on social media are keeping you from getting vaccinated against COVID-19, our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts have a new feature to help: #VaxFacts. These video Q&As address subjects such as: whether getting vaccinated can affect your fertility (answer: no); why it’s incorrect to describe the approved vaccines as experimental; why it’s a [...]
Amid rising cases, vaccination offers the surest protection
Like many of you, I’m looking with concern at daily updates to the ADHS COVID-19 data dashboard. Cases are rising, though with 3.4 million people in Arizona fully vaccinated, including a large share of older Arizonans more prone to severe outcomes, we haven’t seen the same levels of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths as during the winter surge. Still, the [...]