Avian Influenza Pre-Pandemic Procurement: Recommendations for the US Federal Government

Many experts fear that an influenza pandemic will occur in the near future. There is currently much debate about how the US should best prepare. Previous US responses give only minimal guidance as the last major influenza pandemic occurred nearly a century ago—before flu viruses had ever been isolated

Masking Your Rights: Facemask Requirements Under Mandatory Influenza-Vaccination Policies Violate Privacy Rights of Health Care Workers

Hospitals should abandon the facemask requirements in their mandatory influenza-vaccination programs because the facemasks can infringe on the privacy rights of health care workers, and hospitals can still achieve their vaccination goals through less restrictive practices. Part II introduces the recent rise of mandatory influenza-vaccination policies for health care workers, how hospitals exempt certain employees, and the consequences for those exempted. Part III discusses the legal implications of requiring exempted employees to wear facemasks and other identifying material under federal and state privacy law. Part IV recommends that health care employers abandon facemask requirements in their mandatory-vaccination programs in order to avoid privacy violations. Part V concludes

Understanding Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy And Uptake Among U.S. Hispanic Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The health burden caused by seasonal flu is substantial in the general population and each season targeted efforts are needed to decrease the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Flu risks and the disease burden are disproportionately higher among Hispanic adults, yet little is known about the factors influencing flu vaccine hesitancy and uptake among this marginalized population. This cross-sectional quantitative study used national survey data from the Understanding America Study (UAS) and logistic regression to address three research aims. Aim 1 was to examine the most significant demographic factors associated with flu vaccine uptake among the Hispanic community. Aim 2 was to examine the relationship between Hispanic ethnicity and flu vaccine uptake before and during the pandemic. Aim 3 was to examine the demographic factors contributing to complacency, confidence, and convenience within the Hispanic communities that influence flu vaccine uptake or vaccination behavior. The findings indicated that education was a key factor influencing vaccine uptake among Hispanics before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, vaccine hesitancy increased among Hispanics during the pandemic. Finally, complacency and confidence were significant factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy among Hispanics. These findings are new and can inform the development of more effective strategies to improve flu vaccine uptake among marginalized Hispanic populations

Results of the Kentucky Worksite Assessment: Utilization of the CDC’s Health ScoreCard

Study Objectives and Research Approach A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) conducted in 2011-2012 of a proposed Kentucky Worksite Wellness Tax Credit highlighted gaps in the data available on worksite wellness programs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Conducting a state-wide assessment of worksite wellness programs was a recommendation that resulted from this HIA. The purpose of the assessment is to: 1) Identify the number of comprehensive worksite health promotion programs in Kentucky. 2) Determine the health needs of worksites in Kentucky. By Identifying current wellness practices in Kentucky, better tools and support can be provided at a state level to assist organizations to implement results-oriented wellness programs. As worksite wellness science continues to advance and the expectations of successful outcomes continue to increase, more will be required of those in charge of these programs. Upon receiving approval from WKU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), 1,200 randomly drawn businesses received a questionnaire via email. Two-week increments were allowed for workplaces that needed reminders or more time to complete the survey. The survey began in May 2013 and closed in October 2013. Data was analyzed for outstanding themes, which will form the bases for decisions made on the needs of worksite-wellness programs in Kentucky. Data was analyzed further — descriptively and inferentially — to determine worksite factors that contribute to the increasing trends of chronic diseases in the workplace

Barriers To The Administration Of The Influenza Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that since 2010 influenza has caused between 9.2 million and 60.8 million illnesses. Numbers from the 2015-2016 influenza season indicate that influenza vaccination prevented approximately 5.1 million influenza illnesses. Though most healthy individuals recover from the flu within 2 weeks, there is great concern for those who do not as this can lead to serious complications. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic disease that contract influenza, are at risk for more severe illnesses such as sinus infections or bacterial pneumonia. Influenza can lead to worsening of preexisting chronic diseases including asthma and diabetes. It can also lead to death in these high-risk populations. Complications associated with influenza greatly affect the health of our nation and place a tremendous burden on the healthcare community (Rolfes et al., 2016). . This quantitative research study was conducted to determine the barriers to the administration of the influenza vaccine. The purpose of this study was to determine what percentage of the clinical patients in north Mississippi did not receive the influenza vaccine and, of those patients, what the barriers were to vaccine uptake. A convenience sample was utilized to obtain approximately 600 questionnaires. Participants were asked whether or not they had received the influenza vaccine for this current flu season; if not, they identified personal barriers to not being vaccinated. The patient chose from possible barriers, i.e., expense, time, location, fear of getting the flu, drug allergy, fear of the vaccine, and lack of awareness of the potential dangers of influenza. Once these barriers were defined, the patients were asked to participate in the study in an effort to improve the quantity of influenza vaccine administration in our community

Major U.S. Pandemics a Century Apart: Preparedness and the Socioeconomic Impact of 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19

Examining the U.S. public health response during the 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19 pandemics is instructive to charting a better course of action for future outbreaks. To know where we are going, it often helps to look at where we have been and then take strategic and corrective action. This is especially true when considering structural remedies for poor and minority populations who have been disproportionately affected by health crises, both historically and in the present era, due to a variety of social and economic health determinants. Preventable deaths in nursing homes, unilateral closures of schools, businesses, and churches, and determinants that predict poor health as well as the advancements of telemedicine, experimental drug therapies, and new mRNA vaccines are major themes that are significant in highlighting the socioeconomic impact of major pandemics in the United States. A thorough examination will aid in proposing possible policy prescriptions for future pandemic preparedness

New Hampshire state health improvement plan 2013-2020, charting a course to improve the health of New Hampshire

Report using data and statistics to look at key health needs in N.H. including tobacco, obesity, heart disease, cancer prevention, asthma, and infectious diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention transition briefing book

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to present the 2016-2017 Presidential Transition Owner's Manual. CDC is the nation's health protection agency. CDC works 24/7 to conduct critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise. CDC promotes quality of life and prevents the leading causes of disease, injury, disability, and death. CDC is committed to maximizing the impact of every dollar entrusted to the agency and continuing critical work to increase public health capacity at local, state, national, and global levels.CDC's pledge to the American people is to:1. Be a diligent steward of the funds entrusted to the agency2. Provide an environment for intellectual and personal growth and integrity3. Base all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data that is derived openly and objectively4. Place the benefits to society above the benefits to this institution5. Treat all persons with dignity, honesty, and respec

Environmental, Health and Economic Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has evolved as a global pandemic and the disease has affected nearly every country and region. This pandemic has posed further threats to people due to the emergence of the number of novel SARS-CoV-2 strains with unknown original hosts. Since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 has overwhelmed health systems worldwide, from crippling health resources to causing paradigms shifts in health care delivery. The various strategies taken to control viral transmission including testing process, quarantine and isolation have had dire psychological and financial implications on individuals and institutions. Furthermore, many countries have implemented lockdowns and other restrictions to curb the virus’s spread resulted in disrupted formal education, unplanned fiscal costs on emergency reliefs, and decreased productivity. This Special Issue provides an avenue for authors from various disciplines to better understand the risk factors associated with the spread and severity of COVID-19 infections. It also provides information about the influence of COVID-19 and its countermeasures on local economies, the environment, and mental health. This Special Issue contains 11 research articles and one review