FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
Newsletter | Issue 18
The holiday season has arrived and the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) would like to bring you up to speed on our latest news and updates. In this edition of our newsletter, you will learn what we’ve been up to and what you can look forward to as we wrap up the remainder of the year.
November is National Diabetes Month
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes and an estimated 88 million US adults have prediabetes. Diabetes can lead to devastating health problems, including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and death. Unfortunately, some minority groups have higher incidence of diabetes and worse disease management and outcomes. FDA OMHHE has new educational resources available to help you learn what you can do to help manage your diabetes or lower your risk for diabetes. Visit our website to check out our new fact sheet, brochure, and infographic. You can also listen to our recent episode of the Health Equity Forum podcast to learn about the impact of type 2 diabetes in the Asian community.
HHS Launches New Campaign to Improve Diversity in Lupus Clinical Trials
This fall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a new public education campaign that aims to increase racial and ethnic minority participation in lupus clinical trials. The Let’s Take Charge! campaign, developed by the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE), intends to increase diversity in clinical trial participation which helps to ensure that future medical products are safe and effective for everyone living with lupus.
Lupus is a chronic and often debilitating autoimmune disease that has a disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities and diverse populations. Although anyone can get lupus, the disease is more common in women than in men, with nine out of 10 people living with lupus being women. The disease also is more prevalent in people of color. Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy cells, tissues, and organs. It can cause additional health issues such as heart complications, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and neurological issues. Currently, there are limited treatments for lupus, and increased research with participants from diverse backgrounds may help expand the available options.
The Let’s Take Charge! multi-media campaign uses radio and television ads, social media, and other communications platforms to promote awareness and diversity in lupus clinical trials. The campaign will focus on African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. You can visit the campaign’s website which is available in both English and Spanish to find bilingual educational materials such as infographics, sample social media posts, and patient videos.
 FDA OMHHE announces a new funding opportunity: COVID-19 and Health Equity Innovation Award
The Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) continues to work to promote and protect the health of racial and ethnic minorities, underrepresented and underserved populations through research and communication strategies that address health disparities. The COVID-19 and Health Equity Innovation award helps support this work. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to fund innovative research that will strengthen and advance COVID-19 health equity research.
Areas of interest include:
- Proposals that focus on advancing racial and ethnic minority participation in COVID-19/COVID-19 variant clinical trials and/or contribute to informing the continued evaluation of the safety and efficacy of FDA approved products (therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines) or products subject to EUAs/EUA expansion for the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of COVID-19.
- Proposals that support the evaluation of outcomes by demographic data including, but not limited to, ethnicity, race, age, disability, and geography.
- Proposals that support COVID-19 research to understand diverse patient perspectives, preferences, and unmet needs.
The number of awards is contingent upon FDA appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. Award(s) will provide one (1) year of support. FDA OMHHE intends to fund up to $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 in support of this cooperative agreement program. It is anticipated that up to five (5) awards will be made, not to exceed $1,000,000 in total costs (direct plus indirect). Applications are due by November 29, 2021, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Achieving health equity requires commitment and dedication from stakeholders from all corners of the public health and research community. Together we can continue to make a difference. You can learn more about the funding opportunity by visiting OMHHE’s website.
COVID-19 Vaccine Videos Now Available in Multiple Languages
Earlier this year, FDA OMHHE released a new set of videos about COVID-19 vaccine safety and diversity. Racial and ethnic minority communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is important to get vaccinated. Our videos are now available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Navajo, Cherokee, and ASL along with the previously released English and Spanish versions. Vaccines are one of the safest tools to prevent infectious diseases like COVID-19, and they can help protect you and your loved ones from the virus. You can find the videos on our YouTube playlist and our COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.
New Multilingual COVID-19 Vaccines Myths Social Media Toolkit
FDA has created a new toolkit with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram messages and images to help address common myths about the COVID-19 vaccines and share the facts with your community. Messages are available for download in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
FDA Issues Updated Advice about Eating Fish
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued updated advice about eating fish that incorporates the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2020-2025. Done in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this update revises the advice that was last issued in 2019. In the advice, we use “fish” to refer to both fish and shellfish.
Nutrients in fish can support a child’s brain and immune system development. We recommend eating fish as part of a healthy diet, and we encourage children and people who are or might become pregnant or breastfeeding to eat fish that are lower in mercury. Our advice can help them choose which fish to eat and how much to eat based on mercury.
We continue to recommend that children and people who are or might become pregnant or are breastfeeding eat a variety of fish from our “Best Choices” category, as they are lower in mercury. With so many choices of fish, our advice allows people to make choices that work for them. Canned, frozen, and fresh fish all count and provide options that are affordable and convenient.
The Alzheimers.gov Website is now Available in Spanish
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and the National Institute Aging recently announced that Alzheimers.gov, the federal government portal for dementia information and resources, is now available in Spanish! The website is designed to educate and support people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Explore the website to find:
- Information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
- Tips and resources for caregivers and people living with dementia
- Updates on what the federal government is doing to address Alzheimer’s and related dementias
- Clinical trials and studies that people can join to help advance ways to treat and reduce the risk of dementia
- Resources for health care providers, community and public health workers, and researchers
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day began in 1988 and is observed each year on December 1. This annual observance highlights global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day is also an occasion to show support for those living with HIV and to remember those who have died from the infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an estimated 37.6 million people are living with HIV worldwide, and some minorities groups are disproportionately impacted. The theme for the 2021 observance is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” You can visit HIV.gov for more information about World AIDS Day and visit our website for more resources on HIV.
National Influenza Week
This year, National Influenza Week will be observed December 5-11, 2021 with the goal of promoting awareness about the need for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine if they haven’t already. Influenza (flu) viruses typically spread in fall and winter, with activity peaking between December and February. It is not too late to get a flu shot. Getting vaccinated now can lower your chances of getting the flu.
Visit the FDA OMHHE website and follow us on Twitter at @FDAHealthEquity
"Creating a world where health equity is a reality for all."
www.fda.gov/HealthEquity
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