Health News:

• More US adults intend to get the flu shot this year than the updated COVID vaccine. (KFF)
• Butternut squash from Costco has been recalled for E. coli contamination. (Miami Herald)
• Cantaloupe from Eagle Produce has been recalled for Salmonella contamination. It was distributed in 19 states and D.C. (Today)
• A person died of the plague in Colorado, possibly linked to some sort of contact with prairie dogs. (CIDRAP)
• A possible government shutdown would halt food safety inspections by the FDA. (Food Safety)
• A restaurant in Long Island where 28 members of a dance team became ill from improperly stored cooked rice is now permanently closed and facing 9 separate lawsuits. (News 12 LI)
• Vaccine rollout has been disjointed, with appointments unavailable, some people being asked to pay and a confusing system now that the federal program is over. (CNN)
• Nursing homes are still waiting for COVID vaccines. (KFF)
• Flu and COVID vaccination rates are declining. (STAT)
• The parasite Cryptosporidium was found in Baltimore’s water supply. Officials advised vulnerable people to avoid drinking tap water in large parts of the county. (CBS)
• The avian flu infected minks at another Finnish fur farm, prompting culling of the animals and renewed calls for closing fur farms to reduce pandemic risk. (CIDRAP)

‍

Mental Health & Substance Use News: 

• The US surgeon general says combating loneliness is one step toward solving the mental health crisis. (Boston Globe)
• San Francisco will implement a new court for those with mental illness, aimed at getting them wraparound services and off the streets. (Axios)
• Deaths by suicide tend to rise in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters, and those affected are pushing for more support. (Tampa Bay Times)

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.

‍

Best Questions:

‍

Now that we can get free rapid tests from the government, what do we know about what a rapid test really means? 

A positive test means you have COVID and that you can spread it, whether or not you have symptoms. A single negative test doesn’t mean much - it might be too early to test positive, so you could still have COVID. If you take multiple negative tests at least 24 hours apart and you have no symptoms, you probably don’t have COVID. Either way, if you’re sick, you should stay home until you’re fever-free and feeling better, even if you test negative.

Source: CDC

‍

How will a government shutdown affect our employees' health? 

A government shutdown could interrupt funds to community health clinics, which are often a lifeline in low-income and rural areas. For millions of Americans, these discounted or free clinics are the only option they can afford. These so-called ‘safety-net clinics’ might be the only way a sick employee can get treatment in order to return to work, for example. A government shutdown might lead to reduced hours and postponed appointments at these clinics. Food security will be impacted, as well, as those who rely on WIC could lose benefits within days unless states intervene.

Sources: NPR, AP

‍

I’ve heard the vaccine rollout is bumpy. If I encourage employees to go get their shots, will they be able to? 

The vaccine rollout this fall has been a lot messier than it was the past few years, mostly because it’s no longer led by a government task force. Instead, pharmacies had to buy vaccines directly from suppliers, and people need to use their insurance for coverage if they have it. Insurers have been slow to update their systems, even though they’re required by law to cover the shots. The result was that some people were turned away and others were told there would be a fee. That said, we’re hearing that these are starting to get sorted out - more pharmacies have their supply and insurance companies are figuring out how to cover them properly. We expect that within a week or two, most of these issues will be sorted out. You can always remind employees that no one in the US needs to pay for vaccines this year, even if they’re uninsured. If they have questions, they can ask their pharmacist or call their insurance for more info about where to get in-network shots. 

Sources: NPR, CNN

‍

Best Read:

How to check if old or expired COVID-19 tests still work - Axios

‍