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Franklin County Public Health Situational Update
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October 2024
Franklin County Public Health wants to stay connected with our partners in creating informed and healthy communities. This newsletter is here to serve as a tool for you to share resources for your community, schools, and families in your district.
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Immunization
Alexandria (Alex) Jones, Assistant Health Commissioner
- COVID-19 vaccine is available at FCPH for all individuals 6 months and older.
- Remember to get your flu shot when you get your COVID shot.
- October is the start of RSV season. The following groups are recommended to be vaccinated:
- Older adults over 75 are recommended to get one dose.
- Those between the ages of 60-75 should talk to there healthcare provider to determine if they are at elevated risk for RSV and should be vaccinated early.
- Pregnant individuals between 32-36 weeks.
- Babies that are born between October 1-March 31 whose mother did not receive the shot while pregnant.
- Babies that were born after April 1 and this is their first RSV season.
- COVID, Flu and RSV vaccines are all available at FCPH
- For more information, see our general clinic information here.
- Walk-ins are welcome.
Epidemiology Report Review
Radhika Iyer, Infectious Disease Program Epidemiologist & Supervisor
- Due to reporting changes, Epidemiology Reports are published quarterly.
- Next report scheduled is on October 31st.
- The report has been updated to reflect Quarterly community levels.
- Review the full epi report here.
- Please note: all the data shown in the report is only representative of Franklin County Public Health’s jurisdictions which exclude Worthington and the City of Columbus.
- Click here for today’s presentation.
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Lisa Dent, Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion |
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The next Equity Advisory Council (EAC) meeting will be held on October 28th. This meeting will focus on the company, Seramount, that used DEI best practices and the study they did on backlash towards DEI. If you have interest in participating or joining the EAC, contact Lisa at lisadent@franklincountyohio.gov.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will be hosting their 2nd annual conference on October 22-23.
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Amber Breedlove, Communication Specialist |
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Podcast
- FCPH officially launched our podcast called Health is Real.
- Three episodes are now available.
- There are multiple ways to listen:
- Visit myfcph.org/health-is-real/ to find our podcast with links to other options to listen: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.
- The next episode will be available on Tuesday, October 8.
- It will feature Obetz Mayor Angela Kirk live from the Zucchini Festival.
- Please feel free to share any feedback about the podcast with the Communications staff.
Big Table Conversations
- FCPH hosted two Big Table Conversations on September 25.
- The Columbus Foundations sponsors the Big Table event each year and has done so since 2016.
- It’s a day of positive, community-wide conversation.
- One conversation was in collaboration with Assistant Minority Leader House Representative Dontavius Jarrells and the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan about Harm Reduction in our schools and communities.
- The second conversation was in collaboration with Smart Columbus about Community Information Exchange.
- Both events were well attended and offered partners a chance to talk to each other and FCPH about their work in Harm Reduction and Community Exchange Information. Participants identified potential collaborations for the future.
- FCPH staff not only hosted two Big Table events, but staff attended other Big Table discussions around Columbus including one hosted by ETSS.
- Thank you to everyone who joined us at Memorial Hall or attended other Big Table conversations.
Virtual Health Works Franklin County Meeting
- Scheduled for Tuesday, December 3.
- A save-the-date with a Zoom link will be sent via GovDelivery this week.
Mobile Outreach Vehicle
- It’s complete and will be out in the community soon.
- It will serve several of purposes:
- Access to harm reduction resources.
- Community immunization and vaccination opportunities.
- More information will be available about the mobile outreach vehicle’s schedule and location in Franklin County.
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Theresa Seagraves, Assistant Health Commissioner |
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- Currently, there are 7 CHATs throughout Franklin County to address health issues occurring within a local district. These are co-lead with FCPH staff and members in the community. We provide data and a profile of the local jurisdiction to the CHAT team to highlight successes and identify areas where best practices could be implemented.
- On Monday, September 30th, FCPH hosted a meeting with the CHAT team leads to discuss the work that has been going on in their communities. We also gathered feedback on the barriers that they have encountered and how to address them.
- If you would like to be a part of a CHAT team or start a CHAT in your community, please visit our website for more information at myfcph.org/health-systems-planning/community-health/chat/ or contact FCPHCHAT@franklincountyohio.gov.
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Shelly Douglas, Executive Director |
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- This year, Green Columbus is focusing on three areas that report low tree canopy coverage during its 6th annual tree giveaway.
- Tree canopies are important because they help prevent asthma, heart disease, poor air quality and other adverse health issues.
- This year, Green Columbus is focusing on 3 areas that really low tree canopies:
- East side
- West side
- South side
- The native Ohio trees available include red oak, river birch, sycamore, hackberry and tulip poplar.
- All Franklin County residents are eligible to receive a tree.
- All 3,000 trees must go!
- The events can be found on their website at greencbus.org/freetrees2024.
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Christin Brown, Director of Cancer Services, LifeCare Alliance
- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- LifeCare Alliance Cancer Services provides low-cost or free cancer screening and support services.
- For more information on cancer services, click here.
- For more information on Cancer Nutrition and Personal Items Pantry, click here.
- LifeCare Alliance has now partnered with OSU.
- For more information on other LifeCare Alliance services, click here
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Leo Almeida, Ohio Director of Government Relations, American Cancer Society
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month Lighting Ceremony
- Columbus City Hall will pass a proclamation dedicating October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- City Hall will be pink!
- Information on the event can be found her
- Breast Cancer Awareness Walks hosted every October:
- Columbus Making Strides event will be on October 27.
- For more information and how to register, click here.
- In January 2024, a study was released from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Nationally and in Ohio, it states:
- breast cancer incidents are increasing
- breast cancer deaths are decreasing due to the latest advancements, early screening and detection.
- Ohio breast cancer rates for 2024:
- There will be an estimated 11,500 new breast cancer cases.
- Is ranked #1 for breast cancer incidents.
- is ranked #4 with 1,600 deaths associated to breast cancer.
- Data on cancer in Franklin County can be found on our Data Hub here.
- This includes a county cancer profile and reports on disparities in lung cancer, cancer diagnosis, and cancer mortality.
- The best way to prevent cancer deaths is through early detection.
- Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer project (BCCP)
- funding through the federal government and ACS.
- working with Ohio Legislation and Ohio BCCP to advocate for $1.1 million.
- Advocating for a bill for insurance companies to cover biomarker testing.
- Voices of Black Women
- Cancer affects people differently based on their gender and ethnicity.
- 100,000 black women are being recruited across 20 different states and Washington DC to participate in a 30 year research study.
- This is not a clinical study.
- This is a survey that they will fill out twice a year over 30 years.
- The survey will include questions about themselves, their environment and lived experiences.
- If someone develops cancer, this will allow researchers to look closely into why a breast cancer incurred through social and environmental factors.
- To see if you are eligible to participate, click here.
To contact Leo, please reach out to Leo at leo.almeida@cancer.org.
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Dr. John Comerford, Otterbein University President |
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- Otterbein University and Antioch University collaborated to create the Coalition for the Common Good.
- Focus on adult learning/education, certification programs and adult degree completion.
- Mission is to serve underserved populations.
- Online and in-person programs.
- Short term certification programs to get clients earning money quickly
- The Coalition is asking to collaborate with interested agencies and direct their clients to this program.
- For more information, visit the website at otterbein.edu/news/otterbein-and-antioch-university-create-the-coalition-for-the-common-good.
- For questions, please reach out to John at comerford1@otterbein.edu.
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