PG Letter to Parents and Guardians Due to Flu Outbreak

 

• Enhanced Cleaning – Increased disinfection of high-touch areas in schools and buses.
• Handwashing & Hygiene – Ensuring ample soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer, along with reminders for proper handwashing.
• Temporary Masking – If flu cases reach critical levels in a school, we may require temporary masking to safeguard students and staff.
• On-Site Flu Vaccination – We are partnering with the Prince George’s County Health Department to provide flu vaccines in affected schools.
• Limiting Exposure – Keeping students in consistent groups where possible to limit interactions and contain outbreaks.
• Extracurricular Adjustments – Modifying or postponing high-contact activities and large gatherings as needed.
• Ongoing Monitoring – We continue to track illness trends, work closely with local health officials, and update families regularly.

Letter from the Superintendent: Help Us Prevent Flu Spread in Schools

Vitamin A? Cod liver oil? Experts say there’s no replacement for measles vaccination

Texas health experts are warning that vitamin A — found in food and in supplements such as cod liver oil — is not an alternative to measles vaccination.

They’re urging Texans to vaccinate themselves and their children, as the West Texas measles outbreak continues to grow and after an unvaccinated child died from the illness.

Their concerns come after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote about vitamin A in a Fox News column responding to the Texas measles outbreak. (Kennedy has also falsely stated in the past that vaccines cause autism.)

Kennedy’s comments in the column — that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vitamin A for people hospitalized with measles, and that studies have found vitamin A can help prevent measles deaths — are not inaccurate.

But they lack important context, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine. Hotez worries the missing context might mean people put their faith in vitamin A over vaccination — a decision that could cost lives.

“The thing that I worry about is by (Kennedy) playing this up and others playing this up, it sends a false equivalency message, that somehow treating with vitamin A is equivalent to getting vaccinated, which is clearly not the case,” Hotez said...

Vitamin A? Cod liver oil? Experts say there’s no replacement for measles vaccination

Free Walk Up Vaccinations for 5-11 Year Olds in Silver Spring, Germantown, and East County

For more information go here: Free Walk Up Vaccinations for 5-11 Year Olds in Silver Spring, Germantown, and East County (mailchi.mp)

Free Walkups for Pediatric Vaccines 5 to 11-year-olds (Pfizer) available on a first-come, first served basis   Thurs 12/9 & Fri 12/10 3-7pm in East County, Silver Spring and Germantown   Pre-registration appointments strongly encouraged due to limited number of vaccines available   Thursday, December 9, 3:00-7:00pm East County Recreation Center: https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/6137020922 Montgomery College – Germantown:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/3991620072 Dennis Ave Health Center:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/1210369023 Friday, December 10, 3:00-7:00pm East County Recreation Center:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/6137020922 Montgomery College – Germantown:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/3991620072 Dennis Ave Health Center:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/3592206301   East County Recreation Center: 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring, MD 20904 Montgomery College – Germantown: 20200 Observation Drive B/E Building, Germantown, MD 20876 Dennis Ave Health Center: 2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Vaccine for ages 5 to 11 is being distributed to local health departments, private medical practices, and pharmacies in Maryland. Two thirds of the doses will be provided by pharmacies and health care providers and about one third will be provided by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).Take advantage of the many places to get vaccinations. We get more doses weekly. Initially, the number of doses will be limited--please be patient. We will not be able to vaccinate every eligible child immediately. Check with your health care provider to see if they are offering vaccinations. We estimate that we have more than 100,000 children in the age 5 to 11 group. It will take some time to fully vaccinate every eligible child who wants it. Children ages 5 to 11 get 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 3 weeks apart. The pediatric vaccine is specially packaged. It is NOT interchangeable with the Pfizer doses given to people age 12 and older. More info here. GoVaxMoCo.com Montgomery County Public Schools Vaccine Info QUESTIONS? CALL 311

Everyone 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are free.

Everyone 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective, and they're free. Make your appointment at a mass vaccination site now: covidvax.maryland.gov. #MdReady

COVID-19 Vaccination Virtual Town Hall, Montgomery County Council, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.

 

Virtual Community Town Hall with Public Health Leaders Focused on COVID-19 Vaccinations Hosted by the Montgomery County Council on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.

For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 14, 2021

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 14, 2021—The Montgomery County Council will hold a virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. focused on the COVID-19 vaccination program in our community. County Executive Marc Elrich will join the meeting along with Montgomery County Deputy Health Officer James Bridgers, Montgomery County Latino Health Initiative Senior Manager Sonia Mora, Latino Health Steering Committee Co-Chair Monica Escalante, African American Health Program Executive Commitee Co-Chair Beatrice Miller and other public health representatives.

This town hall will provide the latest information on the vaccine rollout plan in Montgomery County, describe the priority order for vaccinations mandated by the state government based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and give residents a forum to get their specific questions answered directly by public health representatives.

“Vaccine distribution has begun across the country and we are all eager to get vaccinated quickly and protect the most vulnerable in our community,” Council President Hucker said. “Still, there is a lot of confusion about vaccine rollout plans. The Council, along with our county's top health officials, will provide clarity on Montgomery County’s vaccine distribution plan and answer all your vaccine-related questions during this important town hall. We hope you can join us.”

“Across the country, our state, and our county, the distribution of vaccines has finally begun. Vaccinations serve as a vital tool to help protect and mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in our community,” Council Vice President Albornoz said. “As we navigate the next critical phase of this epidemic, we are working hard to address the challenges the vaccine rollout currently presents and ensure public health is protected for all.”

The members of the Montgomery County Council include: Council President Tom Hucker, Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers, Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, Will Jawando, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice, Sidney Katz and Hans Riemer.

The virtual town hall will be held through a Zoom webinar. Councilmembers and staff from the Department of Health and Human Services will have breakout rooms for community members to attend and ask their questions and voice their concerns. One breakout room will be dedicated to community members who speak Spanish.

Community members must register ahead of time to participate in the virtual town hall through Zoom by clicking here. The Council must receive your registration by Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. Residents will receive an email confirmation with the appropriate Zoom information to participate. Residents without internet access can call 240-777-7931 and leave a message to register.

The virtual town hall meeting will be televised on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity). The meeting will be streamed on Facebook (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and YouTube (MoCoCouncilMd). Residents also can listen to the virtual town hall meeting by calling 240-777-3333.

For more information or questions contact Juan Jovel at Juan.Jovel@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7931. If you need assistance to participate in this meeting or in any Council activity, please contact the Council as far in advance as possible at 240-777-7900 or send an email to County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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The same Zoom link for the meeting can also be found at: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcocuysqzksH9SwGtSnEFlRQ8dr-bpFdNRx

Release ID: 21-012
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926 , Juan Jovel 240-777-7931

Balt. Sun: Maryland’s educators are a top vaccine priority. But health officials say getting them shots could take months.

Despite a push to move teachers toward the front of the vaccination line so that school buildings can reopen more quickly, many teachers aren’t likely to complete their inoculation for months unless larger quantities of vaccine are shipped to the state.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-vaccine-schools-20210112-ob2l3f5nmnhp7obh2btt4q74gm-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1JnchTl1E1UvXgT6MiU7SkgnLD5YPwjf3tsPurUVxmn4xTe5aB_YGc85w

Note: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine not approved for children under 16 years of age

This fact was mentioned at Governor Larry Hogan's press conference today. 

...Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in persons aged ≥16 years for the prevention of COVID-19...

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6950e2.htm?s_cid=mm6950e2_x