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In this issue:
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People 65 and older, as well as most people with compromised immunity, are now authorized to receive a second bivalent COVID-19 booster dose. The bivalent mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were initially authorized last September as single-dose boosters, and federal health authorities have now authorized and recommended a second bivalent booster dose for certain at-risk populations.
The additional booster shots will be available in Oregon in the coming days.
Additionally, the original (monovalent) mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have been discontinued. Effective immediately, COVID-19 mRNA primary series will consist of one bivalent dose for most people and multiple doses for younger children.
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For three years in a row, the number of youth and young adults age 24 and younger who have died by suicide has dropped. In 2018, 129 people in this age group (the highest it’s ever been) died by suicide. In 2021 that number fell to 95. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among people ages 5 to 24. The new data were generated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“For too long, far too many Oregon families and communities have experienced the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide,” said Jill Baker, OHA’s youth suicide prevention coordinator. “While new data show some promise in our collective efforts to lower our state’s youth suicide rate, we rely heavily on local partners to continue doing the important work of increasing safety and wellness in their communities. We hope people in Oregon hear this news as a call to action: we all have a role in preventing suicide and we can make a difference. It will take our sustained efforts as a community to ensure that this promising trend continues.”
Watch KATU TV’s story featuring Jill Baker that aired April 18.
Overall, death by suicide among all ages in Oregon increased to 889 in 2021, the last year of data analyzed by the CDC. That is the 17th highest rate of suicide in the United States.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. For a list of additional mental health resources, visit our blog. Learn more about OHA’s investments in suicide prevention here, and for information on how to get involved in suicide prevention in your area, visit the Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide.
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Health notes |
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Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist with OHA reported continued improvement regarding COVID-19 at OHA’s monthly pandemic press conference today. COVID-19 cases and related deaths and hospitalizations have continued to drop in Oregon overall. On March 30, the number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations dipped below 200 for the first time in nearly a year. On April 18, 172 people were hospitalized in Oregon with COVID-19-related illness, compared to the peak of 1,178 from Sept. 1, 2021.
Sidelinger also talked about changes to COVID-19 vaccination and booster recommendations, which federal health authorities announced this week, as well as the May 11 end of the national public health emergency and what that means in terms of COVID-19 services and Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) coverage.
NOTE: Today’s media briefing is OHA’s last regular COVID-19 update for the media. We will restart these briefings, if needed, based on conditions with COVID-19 and other seasonal respiratory viruses, such as RSV and influenza.
Residents who use wells in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) in Umatilla and Morrow counties can submit applications for free water testing vouchers to help determine their risk of exposure to nitrate and other contaminants. There is no longer a May 15 deadline for applying for the vouchers, and the vouchers do not expire.
The vouchers cover testing for nitrate, arsenic, bacteria, lead, iron, manganese and hardness. You can apply online here. You can also call 971-673-0440 or email Domestic.Wells@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Households in the LUBGWMA that rely on domestic well water for drinking and cooking may qualify for free water deliveries, depending on their water’s nitrate levels.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of young people?
Watch KATU’s tonight for a town hall on the topic, featuring mental health experts in Oregon, including OHA Director of Behavioral Health Ebony Clarke.
Event details:
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WHO: Panelists joining Clarke include Marcia Hille, executive director at Sequoia Mental Health Services; Dr. Mike Franz, senior medical director of behavioral health at Regence; Dr. Craigan Usher, professor of psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Medicine; and a group of teens, young adults and parents.
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WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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HOW TO WATCH: KATU TV (ABC, channel 2) or streaming live at katu.com/watch (video will also be posted here after the event)
To submit questions or comments to the panel in advance, please email webstaff@katu.com.
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OHA answers your questions |
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Dr. Paul Cieslak, OHA senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations Program, and Emily Droge, health promotion strategist, and Jen Chandler, nutrition policy specialist, both from OHA’s Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section, answered today’s questions.
Q: Is there a new bivalent COVID-19 booster available to seniors? My husband has several co- morbidities. We are up to date with initial vaccines and boosters and want to get any new boosters promptly.” – Julia, Pacific City
A: “Yes. This week, in fact, federal authorities authorized another bivalent booster dose for people age 65 and older, as well as for most people with compromised immune systems. The booster is not ‘new,’ however; it is the same bivalent booster that was first authorized for a single dose last September, and now it is authorized for some people to receive it a second time. For more details on this week’s changes to COVID-19 vaccine and booster guidance, visit our blog.”
Q: Obesity continues to be a national problem. Why hasn’t Oregon required all restaurants to include calorie counts on their menus? – Mary, Corvallis
A: “Thank you for your question. Oregon does require that some restaurants include calorie counts on their menus. Oregon’s Menu Labeling Act requires chain restaurants with 15 or more outlets nationwide to print basic nutrition information, including calories, on their menus. However, there is not a lot of evidence that doing so improves customers’ health. In reality, most communities that experience the highest rates of diet-related chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers simply don’t have adequate access to affordable, culturally relevant, healthy foods.
“As for obesity – the conventional thinking of ‘calories in-calories out’ does not accurately describe how our bodies work and ignores other factors that cause weight gain. Obesity is a complex issue that OHA is addressing on many fronts. Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan, Healthier Together Oregon, outlines OHA’s efforts to ensure access for all to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, enable people to be as active as they’d like, prioritize strong social relationships, and adequately address mental and emotional health.
“We want Oregon to be a place where good health and wellbeing are enjoyed by people of all races, ethnicities, disabilities, genders, age, sexual orientations, socioeconomic status, nationalities and geographic locations. Learn more about these goals and how you can support them in your community by visiting Healthier Together Oregon.”
If you have a question related to COVID-19 or other public health topics, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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If you need mental health support for any reason, help is out there.
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