NH DHHS - State Receives Injury Prevention Grant

Concord, NH – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded grants to assist State health departments in maintaining and enhancing systems for determining the best ways to prevent injuries and to share that information with the public and then evaluate the outcomes. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services, Injury Prevention Program is one of the recipients of the grant and will receive $221,363.

The CDC’s Division of Injury Response, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), is awarding the funds under cooperative agreement CE11-1101 “Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program (Core VIPP).” This cooperative agreement begins August 1, 2011 and has a five-year project period. NCIPC is committed to working with their partners to promote action that reduces injuries, violence, and disabilities by providing leadership in identifying priorities, promoting tools, and monitoring effectiveness of injury and violence prevention and to promote effective strategies for the prevention of injury and violence, and their consequences.

“Every segment of the population is affected by injuries,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS. “From young to old and every demographic, injuries are a preventable cause of disability, death, hospitalization, and lost productivity. This grant will enable our Injury Prevention Program to make great strides toward determining the causes and prevention steps for injuries in New Hampshire.”

Injuries are a major public health problem in the United States. In 2007, injury was the leading cause of death among people ages 1-44 and every year more than 180,000 people die as a result of an injury. Injuries can include motor vehicle accidents, falls, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect. NCIPC’s vision is to put injury and violence prevention on the map as the premier public health achievement of the decade. Its mission is to prevent injuries and violence and reduce their consequences so that people can live to their fullest potential.

For more information, visit the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/bchs/mch/injury or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/ .

NHDP - Bass, Guinta Vote to Jeopardize the Safety of NH Citizens' Food

Concord, NH - Reps. Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta voted against critical funding for USDA's food safety and inspection programs.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million Americans get sick from tainted food every year and 3,000 die. [Roll Call 459]

"At a time when millions of Americans are being sickened from tainted food, Bass and Guinta voted to cut the inspections that protect our families," said Harrell Kirstein, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "From his first congressional hire, Bass made clear that the safety of New Hampshire families would be second to profits of foreign companies importing tainted food."

Before Bass was even sworn into office, he announced that his new chief of staff would be John Billings of the Food Marketing Institute.  Billings, a self described 'capitol hill veteran,' had spent the past several years fighting against the implementation of vital food safety provisions under the FDA.

Bass and Guinta's vote prevented the implementation of the bi-partisan Food Safety Modernization Act, of which former New Hampshire Senate Judd Gregg was a co-sponsor. The act which was the first major change to food safety laws since 1938, was an important increase in the level of scrutiny used to inspect domestic and imported food.

Last October, Guinta told voters that he was in favor of abolishing food safety inspection.  When asked if he thought the FDA should be monitoring food safety, he told a small Tea Party gathering, "my answer is no." [YouTube]

"Protecting New Hampshire families from tainted deadly foods shouldn't be a partisan issue," continued Kirstein.  "Sadly Bass and Guinta have made protecting big oil companies more important than the safety of New Hampshire citizens."

NH DHHS -CDC Seeks Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will host a public discussion on Wednesday, June 15th about the childhood immunization schedule. The CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. This discussion in Concord is the first of four meetings taking place around the country.

EVENT: Public Discussion on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease
WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE: 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH

NH DHHS - CDC is Seeking Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is seeking input surrounding the childhood immunization schedule. Specifically the CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. DHHS and the CDC are hosting a meeting in Concord on June 15th to hear from professionals and the general public about this topic.

The public discussion in Concord is one of four meetings happening around the country. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information gathered to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. The basis for the discussion will be new vaccines that have been developed to prevent meningococcal disease in infants and young children.

The facilitated meeting in Concord is intended to solicit views and perspectives on what factors the ACIP and CDC should take into account when developing recommendations for how to best use vaccines that protect children from relatively rare but often very serious diseases. Newly developed meningococcal vaccines, for instance, have the potential to protect infants and very young children from relatively rare, but often very serious, types of meningitis. Attendance at the meeting is limited, and participation is free. Pre-registration is required to participate, and those wishing to attend must attend the meeting for the entire day.

The meeting is at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, 29 Hazen Drive in Concord on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

To register online: http://keystone.org/registration/concord  

By phone:
1-866-276-7083

By fax:
970-262-0152

This public session is a collaborative effort by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and The Keystone Center.

NH DHHS Announces Pilot Project of School-Based Flu Vaccination Clinics

Clinics To Be Held In 6 Public Health Regions

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is announcing the start of school-based flu vaccination clinics, a new initiative aimed at vaccinating at least 50% of New Hampshire’s school-aged children. The clinics are part of a pilot project; six public health regions are voluntarily participating. There are about 100 schools that will be holding clinics in the coming months in Belknap, Coos, and Grafton Counties as well as the Greater Manchester area.

“We encourage parents in the participating districts to have their children vaccinated at their school,” said Public Health Director Dr. José Montero, “as vaccination is the single best protection against the flu. We know if our children are vaccinated, that will prevent the spread of this serious illness to their siblings, parents, and grandparents. When school-based clinics are successful, healthy children will stay in school, and decrease the amount of lost work time for parents. It will also mean that medical providers can focus on vaccinating people with complex medical issues and on caring for those who are ill.”

“Studies have shown that absentee rates for flu-like illnesses were much lower among children in the schools with an on-site vaccination program,” said New Hampshire’s Immunization Program (NHIP) Manager Marcella Bobinsky. “We have had excellent participation and cooperation from school administrators and school personnel. We thank everyone for their willingness to be involved in this pilot project.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) has expanded recommendations this year for everyone over the age of 6 months to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine will protect against three strains of the flu, including last year’s H1N1 virus. NHIP is providing the influenza vaccine. The administration of the vaccine will be paid for by the child’s insurance provider or by a special contract arranged by NHIP. This pilot project is designed to offer vaccine to all registered students in participating districts. It is not meant to include younger siblings, parents, or staff.

Influenza can be a very serious disease of the lungs, nose, and throat. The illness is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Typical flu symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.

For more information on influenza and the vaccine, contact the NH Immunization Program at 800-852-3345 ext. 4482 or 603-271-4482 or the Communicable Disease Surveillance Section at 800-852-3345 ext. 0279 or 603-271-0279. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov for more information or the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov.