|
 |
|
In this issue: |
|
|
Oregon is home to approximately 300,000 veterans. Veterans Day honors them and their families, and those who came before.
Communities across Oregon will celebrate with festivities and parades Saturday, Nov. 11. Here is a brief list of events:
-
Albany - 72nd annual Linn County Veterans Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Pacific Blvd. and ends at the Linn County Courthouse.
-
Bend – 22nd annual Veterans Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. on NW Harmon Blvd. and will proceed across the Newport Ave. Bridge.
-
Portland – Veterans Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. at NE Beech St. and NE MLK Jr. Blvd., followed by a closing ceremony and vendor and resource fair.
-
Redmond – Parade starts at 11 a.m. at 6th and Dogwood, with a free post-parade chili feed for veterans and their families at the VFW Post (491 SW Veterans Way), 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
-
Roseburg – 68th annual Douglas County Veteran’s Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. in downtown Roseburg.
-
Salem – Oregon Dept. of Veterans Affairs will host the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Oregon State Capitol Park starting at 11 a.m. and livestreamed on Facebook.
-
Tillamook – Veterans Day Celebration starts at 8 a.m., including breakfast, Oregon National Guard flyover and VFW ceremony; hosted by the Tillamook Air Museum at 6030 Hangar Rd.
If veterans or their families are struggling, help is out there:
-
Veterans Crisis Line provides free and confidential 24/7 support for veterans and their loved ones, regardless of VA benefits enrollment. Dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
- The Lines for Life Military Helpline offers free 24/7 help and hope to all military-connected community members, including family, friends and caregivers of veterans. Call 888-457-4838.
-
Dual Diagnosis Anonymous Veterans weekly meetings provide a safe venue to be open about depression, post-traumatic stress, alcohol and drug use, abuse and addiction. Meetings are weekly, in-person or online. Call 503-222-6484.
-
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans offers 24/7 support for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as their family members, friends and supporters. Call 877-424-3838.
|
|
OHA is urging anyone at risk of contracting mpox to get vaccinated against the virus. Since July 20, 17 cases of mpox have been reported in Oregon, up from a rate of about three cases per month.
These numbers are still lower than the 10-15 cases per week reported at the height of the 2022 mpox outbreak, but they show the virus is still spreading in Oregon.
“We never declared the 2022 outbreak over because we were concerned about increases like the one we are seeing now,” said Tim Menza, M.D., Ph.D., senior health adviser for OHA’s mpox response. “And it gives us an opportunity to remind folks in the community that vaccination against mpox remains a valuable tool for reducing the risk of mpox infection.”
OHA is also advising health care providers that testing patients with rashes, lesions or symptoms compatible with mpox should be considered part of comprehensive sexual health care.
The mpox vaccine is free, highly effective and readily available to anyone in Oregon who wants to be vaccinated, regardless of insurance status. Search for the vaccine by ZIP code using the mpox vaccine locator tool. For more on mpox, its symptoms and the vaccine, read our frequently asked questions.
|
|
|
After conducting a nationwide search for a new OHA director, Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Dr. Sejal Hathi.
Dr. Hathi currently serves as New Jersey's state health officer and deputy health commissioner for public health services. Prior to that, she served for two years as White House senior policy advisor for public health. A board-certified physician, Dr. Hathi was also assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Early in her career, Dr. Hathi founded and led two nonprofits advancing leadership for women and girls across six continents. In 2013, Dr. Hathi was appointed one of nine public health leaders to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s advisory group on women and children’s health.
Dr. Hathi will begin her new job at OHA Jan. 16, 2024.
|
|
|
 |
|
Health notes |
|
|
Pregnant people and parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers should practice everyday preventive steps to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). That includes masking (especially indoors around infants), staying home and limiting contact with others when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and frequently washing hands.
This is due to a national shortage of nirsevemab, the recently-approved monoclonal antibody immunization to protect babies against RSV.
For most people, RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms, but for infants it’s the most common cause of hospitalization in the United States, especially for those under 6 months old. In Oregon, up to 3% of infants are hospitalized each year with RSV.
“As the holiday season approaches and we gather with family and friends, RSV is expected to increase in our communities,” said Dr. Melissa Sutton, OHA medical director for respiratory viral pathogens. “Now is the time to plan how you will protect newborns and other young children you might be around as you gather.”
As an alternative to nirsevemab (which his given directly to babies), pregnant people should consider getting the RSV vaccine Abrysvo between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their newborns. Adults ages 60 and older can also be vaccinated against RSV after discussing it with their health care provider.
|
The best time to call the ONE Customer Service line is first thing in the morning between 7 and 8 a.m. The best day to do that is Tuesdays.
The ONE Customer Service Center with Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is where people can get help with medical, cash, food and child care benefits over the phone. Currently, call wait times can be long because an unprecedented number of people have applied for benefits.
The ONE Customer Service Center takes calls Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- For help in English or Spanish, call 800-699-9075.
- For other languages, call one of the toll-free phone numbers listed here to connect with an interpreter.
- People can also call or visit an ODHS office in person. Search for one near you here, or scan the QR code above.
Visit benefits.oregon.gov for more information.
|
CareOregon, a prominent provider of Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) benefits in Oregon, plans to combine with a California-based nonprofit called SCAN Group, which offers Medicare Advantage health plans across multiple states. Learn more about the proposed transaction here.
CareOregon works with three coordinated care organizations (CCOs) to provide OHP/Medicaid benefits to more than 500,000 Oregonians, and OHA must ensure the deal will not negatively impact the CCOs, nor create harm for people and communities in Oregon.
Public input is crucial to this review, and OHA is holding virtual Zoom listening sessions in each CareOregon service area. (These sessions are different than the two listening sessions OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight Program held in October, and if you participated in one of those, please consider joining one of these as well.)
-
Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties (Columbia Pacific CCO): Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Register here.
-
Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties (Health Share of Oregon CCO): Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Register here.
-
Jackson County (Jackson Care Connect CCO): Thursday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Register here.
Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available. Please email or call/text 971-888-3358 as soon as possible if you need any accommodations to participate. We accept all relay calls.
People can also email comments to FormACareOregon.CCO@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Please include the word “CareOregon” in your email, what you think, and whether you support or oppose the transaction. OHA will post public comments on its website, and share public input with other state regulatory programs.
|
|
 |
|
OHA answers your questions |
|
|
Questions are answered by experts at OHA and other state agencies or community partners.
Q: Hello, I tested positive for COVID-19 a month ago with mild symptoms. Today I took a COVID test using Abbott Test Kit, Lot # 203835, with Expiration Date 7-21-2023. Is this kit still OK to use? -- Josie, Portland
A: Yes, that kit is still good to use. Many of the expiration dates of at-home COVID-19 test kits have been extended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you can check this FDA webpage for that information. The FDA lists two test kits manufactured by Abbott. The lot number you provided is listed with the second Abbott test on this page, and when you click on the “Extended Expiration Date” link next to the item, you will find Lot #203835 listed on page 9, about a third of the way down, showing the original expiration date was extended to Feb. 21, 2024.
This is what it looks like:
If a test’s lot # is not listed on the FDA page, that means the expiration date has not been extended and it should be thrown away in the household trash. There is no need to dispose of used or unused at-home COVID-19 tests at a pharmacy or anywhere else.
Q: Is there a supply issue with COVID-19 vaccines for 5-11 year olds? It’s very difficult to find a vaccine appointment in Albany. – Becky, Albany
A: Becky, we share your frustration, as do parents and caregivers across the country. The reason pediatric 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines are in such short supply and when access may improve is not currently known, but we do know that COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 are trickling in.
We are not aware of shipping delays. Additionally, making sure the vaccine is covered by insurance can be tricky. Check out the children’s section at the bottom of this blog for information on insurance and COVID-19 vaccines.
Children who are uninsured or covered by Oregon Health Plan can get free state-supplied COVID-19 vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program or Oregon’s Vaccine Access (VAP) program. You can search for participating providers here, and understand these providers likely have limited supply at this time as well.
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.
|
|
If you need mental health support for any reason, help is out there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
