Vulnerable Populations

On Saturday, June 18, the federal committee that advises on all vaccines recommended that all children 6 months and older should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  Parents can reach out to their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy, health department, or visit vaccines.gov to learn more about vaccine safety and to find availability nearby.  New: Research identifies the most effective messages for parents. 

This webinar will highlight the unique challenges faced by tribal communities in securing safe and secure housing and SUD. The presenters will also discuss how AI/AN communities experience homelessness in relation to the rest of the country

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates continued circulation of the virus, with potential for surges over the next several months. To reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, CDC has a new online tool to help individuals and families find out when to get a booster. To find nearby locations for vaccines, masks, testing, and treatment, visit COVID.gov.

The first part of this presentation examined and presented medical/physiological aspects of SUD and an overview of the impact of SUD on a small but vulnerable population. Dr. Parker then provided an overview of recent substance abuse prevention and intervention applications within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. She described the trends regarding opioid overdose among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the global pandemic and discussed opportunities for addressing opioid overdose prevention in the future.

During this Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, presenters will discuss post-COVID conditions (PCC), an umbrella term for the wide range of health consequences that are present four or more weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2, which includes long COVID. Cognitive symptoms, often described by patients as “brain fog”, are frequently reported following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) has recently published a Multi-Disciplinary Collaborative Consensus Guidance Statement on the Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Symptoms in PCC that provides practical guidance to clinicians in the assessment and treatment of individuals with cognitive symptoms and a history consistent with PCC. The burden of PCC is expected to reflect the disproportionate burden of infection by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and to highlight ongoing inequities in health care. The Health Equity Work Group of the AAPM&R has developed guidance to highlight the central role that principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion play in delivering quality health care.

The AgriSafe Network is a nonprofit organization that provides information and training on injury and disease related to agriculture.  Their health professionals and educators created a social media toolkit that aims to provide clear messages about COVID-19 vaccination for agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers.

COVID-19 has undoubtedly brought about great loss and tremendous societal change— and with it, perhaps, some opportunity. As healthcare systems have been pushed to the brink and supply chains upended, people found themselves unable to access essential services for prolonged periods of time. People who use drugs (PWUD) have been particularly vulnerable to these disruptions, as traditional syringe services and harm reduction programs quickly pivoted to minimize person-to-person interaction while still working to provide life-saving services. Now is the time to leverage all that we have learned during COVID-19 to effectively plan and prepare for future public health crises and continue to advocate for much needed flexibility in service delivery for PWUD.

The opioid epidemic is a result of a complex system of varied and interrelated factors. This webinar will introduce a systems thinking approach and tools to address complex public health challenges. The webinar will provide an overview of systems tools and describe opportunities to develop systems further thinking capacity for application to grantees’ local opioid response.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that people in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. This policy will apply to COVID-19 over-the-counter tests approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, CMS has posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

This packet presents Implementation III grantees with tools and strategies to support implementation activities that expand the options for SUD/OUD services across the care spectrum, thereby helping rural residents in your community to prevent SUD/OUD, access treatment, and move toward recovery.