AZPHA Conference in 2 Weeks – Modernizing Public Health Practice: Building an Innovative Infrastructure for the Public Health of the Future
The Arizona Public Health Association’s 2025 Annual Conference is just around the corner (April 3), and this is your chance to register for an event that promises to explore groundbreaking innovations in public health. This year’s theme, “Using AI to Enhance Public Health Practice, Data, Informatics, and the Public Health Workforce” focuses on how artificial intelligence is transforming the field of public health. From data-driven decision-making to workforce development, this conference offers
A Turning Point in the Opioid Crisis?
New national data from the CDC and National Center for Health Statistics has revealed a 24% decline in opioid drug overdose deaths in the last 12 months compared with the previous 12. The biggest decline was among those 18-44 years old. NCHS: Vital Statistics Rapid Release – Provisional Drug Overdose Data Fatal fentanyl overdoses are down in every state : NPR CDC Reports Nearly 24% Decline in U.S. Drug Overdose
Trump Administration Rolling Back Environmental Protections
The president promised to roll back environmental protections in the leadup to the election and he is following through. This week his administration (EPA) announced they’ll be embarking on a several months rulemaking to undermine a host of existing environmental protections – mostly focusing on rolling back carbon reduction provisions. While these changes won’t be immediate (they need to go through the federal rulemaking process) their intent is clear: to
Long COVID: Persistent Symptoms and Functional Impacts 5 Years After Infection
As the COVID-19 pandemic marks its fifth year, many people who’ve recovered from the virus continue to suffer from lingering symptoms known as “Long COVID”. This condition affects a significant portion of people who had moderate or severe COVID-19 infections, with people reporting symptoms persisting for months or even years after the initial infection. Main Symptoms of Long COVID The symptoms of long COVID vary widely and can affect multiple
Legislative Update: Week of March 17
This week was dominated by floor votes (called 3rd Read). Bills that successfully get approved on the floor vote then move over to the other chamber. Committees are also back in full swing. The Senate and House Health and Human Services Committees are meeting this week on several bills. Rather than discuss them here (this is already a long update) I’ll just link you to our weekly committee worksheet. Here’s a
FDA Bypasses Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee: Establishes this Fall’s Influenza Vaccine Formula w/o VRBPAC Technical Review
Each March the US decides what the formulation should be for the next season’s influenza vaccine. For decades the process has been to have experts from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) analyze global surveillance in the northern and southern hemispheres and make a formula recommendation to the FDA Commissioner – with the goal of having a vaccine targeting the most likely strains that’ll be the