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September 2026
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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Epidemiology Report
Review the September Epidemiology report.
Back-to-School Vaccination Clinics
 Keeping students healthy is a shared priority, and Franklin County Public Health is here to support your school in making that easier. Our Immunization team is offering on-site vaccination clinics designed to fit the specific needs of your school community.
Whether you’re interested in a back-to-school clinic during the day or after school hours, we will work with you to find a schedule that minimizes disruption for staff and students. For the 2026–2027 school year, a limited number of clinic dates remain available for September and October.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can partner to keep students up to date on their vaccines, please reach out at shots@franklincountyohio.gov.
Two flyers are available with clinic hours and locations, including extended hours for families who need after-school appointments.
Preventing Respiratory Viruses
Each year, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The CDC recommends that all people use core prevention strategies to protect yourself and others:
- Stay up to date with your immunizations.
- Practice good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness).
- Take steps for cleaner air.
- When you may have a respiratory virus:
- Use precautions to prevent viruses from spreading to others.
- Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness. Getting treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.
More information is available on the CDCs website.
Officials from the Ohio Department of Health are reporting an increase in COVID-19 virus levels in the local wastewater at the Jackson Pike treatment plant. While influenza and RSV have not been detected yet, rising virus levels in wastewater are a strong early warning sign that COVID-19 infections, cases, and hospitalizations will likely increase in our community.
Local organizations like schools, healthcare facilities, and nursing homes are encouraged to review their prevention plans, and residents are reminded to stay up to date on their seasonal vaccinations. You can track ongoing respiratory virus levels throughout the season on the Ohio Wastewater Monitoring Network Dashboard.
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Recovery Day
Attend our National Recovery Month event on Tuesday, September 15th from 3pm-7pm at Franklin Park Conservatory! This countywide event brings together residents, community organizations, healthcare providers, recovery support agencies, local leaders and families for an uplifting day celebrating recovery, hope and community! At the event, you’ll find:
- Free overdose prevention supplies
- Resources to help with housing, employment and insurance
- Narcan demonstrations
- Health screenings
- Flu vaccinations
- Celebration activities
- Games & giveaways
- Free food!
We hope to see you there!
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Visit our online calendar to view all the events and activities that FCPH is participating in this summer! Below are the events our Community Health Action Teams (CHATs) are hosting or attending in fall:
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September 8, 10:00-11:00 am, Eastside CHAT tabling at Whitehall Library
- 4445 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43213
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September 8, 2:00-3:00 pm, Canal Winchester Mind & Motion
- 85 Covenant Way, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
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September 10, 6:00-7:30 pm, Reynoldsburg PACE Walking Series
- 6800 Daugherty Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
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September 11, 8:00-5:00 pm, BucklPE Community Cares Day (OSU)
- 370 W 9th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
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September 11, 4:00-6:00 pm, Clinton Township Produce Market
- 3820 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224
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September 17, 10:30-11:30 am, Canal Winchester CHAT tabling at Canal Winchester Library
- 123 Groveport Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
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September 17, 6:00-7:30 pm, Reynoldsburg PACE Walking Series
- 6800 Daugherty Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
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September 18, 6:30-8:30 pm, Clinton Township Family Movie Night
- 3820 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224
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September 24, 6:00-7:30 pm, Reynoldsburg PACE Walking Series
- 6800 Daugherty Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
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September 25, 4:00-6:00 pm, Clinton Township Produce Market
- 3820 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224
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September 27, 8:00-11:00 am, Office on Aging: Heart & Sole Walk
- 1500 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240
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The next Engagement and Access Council (EAC) meeting will be held in-person on Monday, October 26th from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Franklin County Forensic Center, 2090 Frank Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43223.
The agenda will be shared prior to the meeting date. Contact Co-Chairs, Lisa Dent and Theresa Seagraves for more information.
Early Deaths From Excessive Drinking Report
FCPH Epidemiologists compiled a county-wide report in response to a report issued by CDC outlining the health impacts of consuming alcohol, which showed that low or moderate alcohol use increases the risk of premature death for Franklin County adults. Some key takeaways include:
- On average, there were 680 alcohol-attributable deaths each year from 2022 - 2024.
- These deaths resulted in 17,597 years of potential life lost per year, meaning each person who passed away from excessive drinking could have lived for another 26 years if they had not drunk excessively.
- Alcohol-attributable deaths accounted for 6% of total deaths and 20% of deaths in people aged 20-49 years.
- The alcohol-attributable death rate was 51 per 100,000 residents, which was similar to the drug overdose death rate of 52 per 100,000 residents.
To view the report, please visit .
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Flood Resources
Heavy storms, flood waters and electrical outages affected many of our communities over the past several weeks.
We understand that residents may have questions and concerns about the health and safety of their home. FCPH created a resource page on our website with links to helpful resources that can help our residents navigate next steps. Information includes the proper method to disinfect your well, preventing mold in your home, and connecting with our staff for resources and questions.
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The U.S. has seen several food recalls this year which has left many asking, what IS safe to eat? Experts from Nationwide Children's Hospital shared why food is recalled and six things you can do at home to keep your family safe.
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Governor DeWine Announces New Navigator Program to Help Families with Children Diagnosed with Cancer
Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, announced the creation of a navigation program that will connect families of pediatric cancer patients with the tools to get help more quickly and effectively. The announcement coincides with the first day of September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“This program will save precious time solving problems and finding answers when families need it most,” said Governor DeWine. “Our goal is to help as many families as possible and connect them with potentially life-saving resources.”
The new program expands existing work ODH is doing through its Complex Medical Help program, which currently covers some cancer treatment costs for Ohio families that are medically and financially eligible. The new Pediatric Complex Care Navigation program services are available to all Ohio families regardless of income level.
Watch the full press conference here.
Read the full press release here.
Learn more about the FCPH Complex Medical Help program.
250 Walking Challenge
The America 250-Ohio 25 Mile Walking Challenge is a month-long community wellness campaign encouraging residents to walk at least 25 miles during the month of September, and if you complete the challenge, you will receive an exclusive commemorative prize.
To begin, you must complete three easy steps:
- Download the Challenge App to track your progress.
- Walk anywhere in Ohio.
- Reach 25 miles to earn the prize.
More information is available on the America 250-Ohio 25 Mile Walking Challenge’s website.
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It's officially September, which means it's National Suicide Prevention Month! Our partners at the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition believe suicide prevention is everybody's business. This September, you're invited to complete the Community Connection Bingo Challenge! Through large and small acts of connection, we can help build a stronger community of care in Franklin County.
1. Check out the Bingo Card and choose 3-4 activities in a line down, across, or diagonal that you'd like to complete, whether by yourself, with a loved one, or with a team!
2. Make a plan to complete your activities and get a bingo by the end of the month.
3. Submit your response to the "Community Connection Bingo Challenge" form by 9 pm on September 30. The form is found at linktr.ee/fcspc.
Every bingo submission will be entered into a raffle for a gift basket of self-care and community connection items, and the winner will be announced in October!
**Must live or work in Franklin County to enter**
We hope you'll join in for a full month of bringing hope and support to Franklin County by practicing daily acts of connection and care to help save lives!
New guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics expands the categories of high-risk children eligible for immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalization among young children.
The AAP continues to recommend RSV immunization for all infants under 8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season, unless the infant has documented protection from vaccination of their pregnant parent. The AAP expands the high-risk criteria for administration of RSV immunization in infants and children ages 8 months-19 months entering their second RSV season, as well, according to AAP.
Read the full news release to learn more.
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The next jurisdiction update will be sent on
Friday, October 1, 2026.
Visit fcphcommunityhub.org for the latest information.
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