If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call 988 or message the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Yes, we know that the contaminated oysters from Sonora, Mexico, have been shipped throughout not only California but other western states, as well. While the FDA recall has been focused on LA and San Diego, where local restaurants serving the contaminated oysters have seen major outbreaks, we know that the oysters were also delivered to distributors and retailers who in some cases have shipped them out of state. Even if you’re not in California, you should double-check the source of any raw oysters you serve. If you’re not sure if your oysters are involved in the recall, don’t serve them until you’re certain.
Less than one in four American adults have gotten the updated COVID shot this winter. This makes some sense, given the politicization of vaccines and general mistrust of science, healthcare, and government. But vaccine hesitancy alone doesn’t explain it because nearly half have gotten their annual flu shot. The divide is even more stark in kids, where just 11% have been given the COVID shot compared to 47.5% who have this year’s flu shot. There are probably multiple reasons the flu shot is more popular: less politicization, a longer track record, and fewer short-term side effects the day after the shot. There’s good news for public health experts in here, too, though; those who are open to the flu shot may be open to being educated about the importance of COVID shots as part of their annual vaccination coverage moving forward. They’re not totally opposed to vaccines in general, and they’re health conscious. For next year’s communication, we think focusing on the similarities between the two shots and the possibility of getting them as a package deal will be key in corporate and public health communications.
Sources: STAT
Measles is all over the news right now. There’s an outbreak in Philadelphia, a case at a children’s hospital in Delaware that exposed dozens of people, cases in Washington state, New Jersey, and Missouri, a warning to travelers at two international airports in the D.C. area - the list goes on. Most of these cases are in people who are unvaccinated, including a child who was sent to daycare against quarantine instructions. Anti-vaccination sentiments fueled during the pandemic are partly to blame. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist also suggests that some of it is collective amnesia; we’ve done such a good job eliminating the disease that people have forgotten just how big of a threat it is. It’s incredibly contagious, can be deadly - especially for kids - and can have long-lasting effects on the immune system. The good news is that it can be prevented through vaccination. If you or your kids aren’t vaccinated, we highly recommend talking to your doctor ASAP.
Sources: MedPage Today, YLE
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call 988 or message the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Rising Suicide Rate Among Hispanics Worries Community Leaders - KFF Health News