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MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories supports STEM education
What do you want to be when you grow up? This common question is frequently presented to children, and their responses are influenced by the occupations to which they have been exposed. Many children have limited knowledge of or contact with someone in the field of laboratory diagnostics, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) aims to change that.
To address the laboratory workforce shortage and raise awareness of laboratory diagnostics as a career, the MDHHS BOL established the “Explore Lab Science” K-12 outreach program a little over a decade ago. Because students are unable to visit the laboratory to observe what we do, this program allows us to send a scientist from the laboratory to visit students and share the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) principles underlying our work through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
The “Explore Lab Science” program is divided into three tiers:
- Tier 1: K-3rd grade students are introduced to science in general terms.
- Tier 2: 4th-8th grade students are presented with laboratory terminology and learn basic experiments.
- Tier 3: High School students are presented with more complex laboratory experiments and demonstrations.
The “Explore Lab Science” program supplements classroom curricula with a wide variety of STEM concepts. For younger students, we might explain surface tension using bubbles, demonstrate catalysts with elephant toothpaste, and introduce germs and proper handwashing with fluorescent powder. For older students, we include activities that replicate laboratory tests such as DNA extraction, chromatography, and microscopy. In addition to on-site visits, a wide variety of educational information and STEM activities are available for students on the “Explore Lab Science” website.
The program also employs and mentors' college interns majoring in STEM-based fields of study. They play an active role in the development of program material and the determination of program goals, all while learning about public health laboratory testing and increasing skills such as leadership, photo and video editing, and preparing and delivering presentations.
For more information about the “Explore Lab Science” program or to schedule a visit, contact Heather Seymour at SeymourH@michigan.gov.
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FEMA Seeks Public Feedback on Public Health Resource Typing Documents
The Federal Emergency Management System’s (FEMA’s) National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on nine public health resource typing definitions. This 30-day national engagement period will conclude at 5 pm (EDT) on June 8. These resource typing documents enhance the interoperability and effectiveness of mutual aid by establishing baseline qualifications for National Incident Management System-typed teams. This facilitates the sharing of deployable resources at all jurisdictional levels. National engagement provides an opportunity to comment on the draft documents to ensure they are relevant to all implementing partners.
J&J - Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
On May 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the J&J - Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the United States and the last remaining stockpiles of the vaccine expired on May 7. More than 31.5 million doses of the vaccine were delivered to U.S. states and territories, but only about 19 million people received the vaccine, representing about 7% of vaccinated U.S. residents.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a good time to explore the mental wellness videos, workshops and other resources available from the Stay Well program!
Providing care and services to the public can be demanding and stressful. Work-related stress can affect your well-being, the care and services you give to others while doing your job, and the well-being of the people you care about outside of work. It is critical for providers to recognize what stress looks like and know where to go for help.
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If you are in distress or crisis, experiencing suicidal thoughts or struggling with substance use, call or text 988. For a chat option, visit 988lifeline.org.
Help can also be found online at Michigan.gov/StayWell.
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An R&D roadmap for broadly protective coronavirus vaccines: A pandemic preparedness strategy
Abstract: Broadly protective coronavirus vaccines are an important tool for protecting against future SARS-CoV-2 variants and could play a critical role in mitigating the impact of future outbreaks or pandemics caused by novel coronaviruses. The Coronavirus Vaccines Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap (CVR) is aimed at promoting the development of such vaccines. The CVR, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation, was generated through a collaborative and iterative process, which was led by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and involved 50 international subject matter experts and recognized leaders in the field.
 A tiered approach to developing broadly protective coronavirus vaccines.
This report summarizes the major issues and areas of research outlined in the CVR and identifies high-priority milestones. The CVR covers a 6-year timeframe and is organized into five topic areas: virology, immunology, vaccinology, animal and human infection models, and policy and finance. Included in each topic area are key barriers, gaps, strategic goals, milestones, and additional R&D priorities. The roadmap includes 20 goals and 86 R&D milestones, 26 of which are ranked as high priority. By identifying key issues, and milestones for addressing them, the CVR provides a framework to guide funding and research campaigns that promote the development of broadly protective coronavirus vaccines.
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Updated building ventilation guidance
On May 11, the CDC published updated guidance for improving building ventilation to help protect people from respiratory infections, with a goal of at least five air changes each hour and an upgrade to MERV-13 filters.
Deploying multiple infection prevention and mitigation strategies can optimize the overall effectiveness of ventilation interventions.
Detailed are several enhanced strategies, including steps like keeping the fan set to the "on" position rather than "auto" when people are in the building, adding fresh air, using appropriately sized air cleaners, installing ultraviolet air treatment systems, and using carbon dioxide monitors to track air quality.
ASHRAE (a professional society of mechanical engineers that set building energy and ventilation standards), also released a first draft of its standard for maintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ), ASHRAE Standard 241P, Control of Infectious Aerosols. The standard provides minimum requirements for HVAC-related measures to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other airborne viruses in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and other buildings during periods of high risk. A public comment period runs through May 26, with publication expected in July.
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Agriculture Worker Health 102: Supporting Agricultural Worker Health
Join the Farmworker Health Network (FHN), a six-member network of organizations to learn about most relevant current agricultural worker policy issues and explore effective service delivery models. Presenters will also highlight training and technical assistance opportunities and share resources and promising practices to support health center staff in the implementation of service delivery changes and adaptations when serving the agricultural worker population.
The webinar is scheduled for May 23, 2023 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
2023 Pink Book Conference
An in-person, two-day course intended for state, county, and regional immunization programs. The CDC speaker will provide an overview of vaccination principles, general best practices, immunization strategies, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them.
June 13 and 14 at the Lansing Center. Please note registration closes on June 4, 2023.
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The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS and Systems of Care (BEPESoC) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of Michigan's citizens and communities.
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This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1NU90TP922062-01-00, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bureau of EMS, Trauma & Preparedness | 1001 Terminal Rd, Lansing, MI 48906 | 517-335-8150
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