Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized a second booster dose for those ages 50 and older. They also authorized a second booster for those 12 and older who have weakened immune systems. Vaccines are extremely effective at protecting against severe COVID-19 outcomes, but evidence suggests [...]
As we offer our first weekly COVID-19 Data Dashboard update, showing a continuing decline in cases and other metrics, I want to call attention to some critically important information in two reports linked atop the dashboard: Booster doses dramatically increase protection against COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. Our twice-monthly report on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination [...]
ADHS has consistently followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and today’s updated CDC recommendations on mask use are no exception. The CDC’s mask recommendations now vary according to a community level that considers COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and COVID-19’s impact on the local healthcare system. The COVID-19 [...]
When the last state-run COVID-19 mass-vaccination site closed last June, with millions of Arizonans already protected, former ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ noted that in many ways the hardest work was just beginning. The vaccine was and continues to be widely available around the state. The focus for ADHS, local health departments, and others had [...]
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve updated our processes to ensure the data presented on the ADHS COVID-19 Data Dashboard is as complete and accurate as possible. Today, we are improving the way a patient’s county of residence is assigned in our Vaccine Administration dashboard. Previously, county assignment was based on the address entered into the [...]
International Infection Prevention Week occurs globally from October 13 - 19 to raise awareness of healthcare-associated infections. Healthcare-associated infections are infections people can get while receiving health care for another condition. This year’s theme is “Vaccines are Everybody’s Business” and highlights the important role that vaccines play in preventing infections from spreading and protecting public health. [...]
Every day, public health works to keep Arizonans healthy and well by promoting good choices like healthy eating, regular physical activity, smoking cessation, vaccinations, and injury prevention through seatbelt and helmet use. We know that these choices lead to good health, but we also know that it's not always easy—or even possible—to make these choices. Many factors, including something known as [...]
April 22 through 29 is National Infant Immunization Week, an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. During that week we also celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing [...]
Preventing cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has just become easier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published new recommendations for HPV vaccines so some teenagers can be fully vaccinated with two doses of HPV vaccine instead of three. The CDC now recommends a two dose HPV vaccine schedule for children [...]
Every year, tens of thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination. Arizona has had 22 cases of measles in adults this year, making it the biggest measles outbreak of 2016 in the US. To celebrate the importance [...]
