Signal Cleveland’s Post

At the intersection of public health and emergency preparedness, our job is to constantly be looking for the next thing. Unfortunately, I fear that the most likely next public health emergency is entirely preventable, and that's measles. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on earth--for those born before the availability of the MMR vaccine, it's assumed that everybody had it. Almost no other disease can be described that way. If you have a measles case in your jurisdiction, it's time to get your public messaging in order--everyone who was in a room with a contagious person up to two hours afterward may be at risk if they aren't vaccinated. Physicians in your area may have never seen measles before--have a plan to show them what to look for. And finally, should an outbreak occur, mass vaccination may be necessary to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths in the worst case scenario. Have those considerations ironed out before you see a case, and you'll be that much sharper and quicker in response if and when you do see one.

#CareforAll 💜 Did you know that pharmacists have been underutilized when managing the spread of diseases, such as #COVID19? Pharmacists can help in managing medications, COVID19 testing and vaccination efforts, making it easier for patients to access testing and vaccination services. More must be done to strengthen the role of pharmacists in COVID 19 care, helping healthcare reach underserved areas and improving patients’ trust in healthcare. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dSfwTdPF 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞.

Covid highlighted a complex #publichealth phenomena where the UK public percieve publicised vaccine risks as a being much closer to the risks of the disease they are being advised to vaccinate against, than they actually are. To some extent this reflects media coverage where a single case of adverse reaction gets disproportionate attention compared to the many thousands of people protected by a vaccine. There is an ongoing challenge here for #crisiscommunications and #emergencyplanning on how we proportionately communicate risk. The consequences of not addressing this can be seen in the recent measles outbreak, the whooping cough outbreak below and should be key to future pandemic planning. https://lnkd.in/ekKwTiRE

Empowering healthcare heroes goes beyond immediate protection. By bolstering vaccination programs, we not only safeguard them from infection but also pave the way for swift vaccine delivery during crises. Read more in this new op-ed from The Partnership for International Vaccine Initiatives, a program of The Task Force for Global Health, Inc., and let's unite to build resilient healthcare systems. 💉https://bit.ly/3PRzXuO #HealthcareHeroes #InfluenzaVaccination

It's always about layers of protection: within-community behavior change efforts plus good surveillance plus vaccination plus well-funded public health infrastructure plus culturally-competent provider-patient relationships plus plus plus....There's no one way to tamp down diseases and keep people healthy. #healthcommunication #behaviorchange https://lnkd.in/gVcnrEp9

Measles outbreaks are climbing around the world due to delays in preventive care, vaccine shortages, and historically low pediatric vaccination rates. Employers need to understand the risks this highly contagious disease presents to their workforce, while also considering how to reduce overall impact. For more, read our latest blog. https://okt.to/6ogrCl

Considering a #FluVax for your child? >> Here's why you should 👇 A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases estimated that flu vaccination led to a 40-48% reduction in children and adolescents needing emergency department or urgent care visits and hospitalizations due to flu infection during the 2022-2023 season. 🏥 While the flu shot does not guarantee the prevention of the flu, it can help those who are vaccinated from getting severe flu. This is especially important for children younger than 5 years old because they are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. For more information, talk with a healthcare provider. #FightFluWV #WVRuralHealth

Mastering Compassion Fatigue: Key Strategies for Healthcare Professionals Learn the invaluable five-year immunization against compassion fatigue by Dr. Gentry. Discover how to stay present, build understanding, and foster collaboration to provide the best care for your patients. Enhance your well-being and excel in your profession. #CompassionFatigue #PatientCare #WorkLifeBalance #LeadershipBeyondBurnout #EmotionalWellbeing

The spike in whooping cough cases, which have more than quadrupled in the U.S. over the past year, is concerning. This surge is largely due to a decline in vaccination rates, a trend that began during the pandemic. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease, and encouraging friends and family to protect themselves and their communities is more important than ever. Let’s work together to reverse this trend by encouraging vaccination and spreading awareness about the critical role it plays in preventing outbreaks. This article from NPR covers the latest updates: https://ow.ly/Bc0N50TEHqX #InfectiousDiseases #PreventiveCare #WhoopingCough

Still time to grab a jab! After 31 January 2024, the COVID-19 offer will close until the next seasonal campaign, likely to be April 2024. A dose of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be offered to people aged 65 and over, residents in care homes for older people, anyone aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group, and health and social care staff (including those working in #vcse organisations). It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year. We keep the resources and news pages of the Alliance website updated with information that supports the health of the VCSE workforce and communities. > https://lnkd.in/ehZsDpzP >https://lnkd.in/eM5BGdnC #VCSEworkforce #vcse #worcsvcse #healthycommunities