Hi there,
Happy New Year! I wish everyone health and happiness in 2023. Many of us set new health goals for the new year. Maybe you want to get more active, quit smoking (check out this free, virtual opportunity) or just drink more water. Recently, the American Medical Association offered 10 recommendations to help create impactful, long-lasting improvements to health. There are two more I would like to add:
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Practice self-care: Before you can take care of others it’s important to take care of yourself! Find time to rest and do things you enjoy.
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Stay connected with loved ones: Connections have a positive impact on your health and social support networks offer many health benefits.
Remember you can set goals at any time. Don't worry about coming up with some only at the beginning of the year. Make small changes that will stick when you are ready!
Respiratory illness season is definitely still upon us. Illness is spreading in most communities among children and adults. We are seeing influenza A, other flu strains and pathogens causing fever and cough and/or sore throats increasing each week.
Follow these steps to help you and your household stay healthy:
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces
- Improve room ventilation
- Wear a mask in public spaces
- Stay up-to-date on flu and COVID vaccines for the entire family
Questions about respiratory illnesses can be answered by Nurse on Call at 1-800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com.
Be Well,
Dr. Calandra Green, Health Officer, Oakland County
Radon test kits half-price during January
Take action to protect your health by testing your home for radon during National Radon Action Month. Visit Oakland County Health Division to purchase radon test kits for $5 during January.
One in every four Michigan homes is expected to have radon levels that exceed the recommended federal action level. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to test. The gas can sometimes get into homes through cracks in floors or walls and can accumulate, becoming a health hazard.
Test your home for radon every two years during the winter months, since windows and doors typically remain closed during cooler temperatures, allowing radon gas to collect inside and be more easily detected. If high levels of radon are found, contact the Health Division’s Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 in Pontiac or 248-424-7191 in Southfield for more information about radon mitigation and service providers.
Radon test kits for homes are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for $5 during January, or $10, beginning on Feb. 1.
COVID-19 Bivalent Booster now available for children age 6 months or older
The updated (bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are now available for use in children age 6 months and older. What parents and caregivers need to know:
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Children (6 months-5 years of age) who received the original Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: Eligible to receive one booster of the updated (bivalent) Moderna vaccine two months after completing a primary series with the original Moderna vaccine.
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Children (6 months through 4 years of age) who begun their primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or have not yet received the third dose of their primary series: Will receive the updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as the third dose in their primary series following two doses of the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
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Children (6 months through 4 years of age) who have already completed their three dose primary series with the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Not eligible for a booster dose of an updated bivalent vaccine at this time. These children are expected to have protection against the serious outcomes from the currently circulating variants.
We have Pfizer & Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine available at our Health Division offices for children 6 months - 4 years old. Please call Nurse on Call at 1-800-848-5533 with questions regarding vaccine availability for this age group.
Polio Vaccine available at no cost to Oakland County residents
Polio vaccine (IPV) is available at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield at no cost to Oakland County residents who are not up to date on this vaccine. No appointments are necessary.
The United States is now considered a country with circulating poliovirus after one case was confirmed case in another state last year. Polio has been considered eliminated in the U.S. since 1979. According to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the number of children completing vaccination series has declined the past few years. Lower vaccination rates create more opportunity for vaccine preventable diseases to spread.
Parents should contact their child’s healthcare provider to ensure they are up to date on the polio vaccine. CDC recommends that children get one dose of IPV at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years old. Children traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is high, should complete the series before leaving for their trip.
Adults who have not completed their IPV series are encouraged to get fully vaccinated. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, request your vaccination record from the State of Michigan. There is no cure for polio but preventing the spread is possible through safe and effective vaccination.
National Day of Racial Healing
The effects of racism are evident all around us. People experience these effects when they take their children to school, apply for jobs, rent or buy a home, visit a doctor or try to access healthy food. National Day of Racial Healing (Jan. 17) promotes healing and discussion about racism, bias, inequity, and injustice. Learn how you can participate by visiting https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing/ for conversation guides for friends and family, and a digital series on advancing racial equity through the experience of racial healing.
Learn how to prepare and sell foods publicly under Michigan’s Cottage Food Law
Cottage Foods are specific types of foods that are made in an unlicensed kitchen within Michigan. Not all food products can be sold as Cottage Foods, they must be non hazardous foods that do not require time and/or temperature controls for safety, among other guidelines. Some examples include: fruit jams/jellies, breads and similar baked goods, cookies, cakes and vinegars.
Learn how to prepare and sell foods to the public under Michigan’s Cottage Food Law workshop, which combines education about the law and aspects of preparing and selling foods safely and successfully.
Health Division Flu & COVID-19 vaccination info
Check out our webpage page for information about COVID, flu, and other vaccinations and eligibility. Appointments are recommended and can be made online or by calling our Nurse on Call hotline at 1- 800-848-5533 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Oakgov.com/health is the best place to receive the latest information. Add, update, or opt out of Health Division email or text communications by clicking here.
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