The Washington State Board of Health held a
special meeting Thursday, February 21, to respond to a nationwide shortage
of the vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). The Board
approved a Department of Heath proposal that essentially allows children who
have deferred their final Hib vaccine to enter child care without filing an
exemption during the shortage. For more details on specific Hib vaccine
requirements during the shortage please refer to
meeting materials.
Health Disparities Council heard legislative proposals and budget requests
At its February 7 meeting, the Council received briefings on some activities and programs in Washington
State to reduce health disparities by improving the diversity of the health
care workforce, improving health literacy levels, reducing exposures to
environmental hazards and preventing chronic kidney disease. The Council
also heard updates from its members on legislative proposals and budget
requests. Council members participated via teleconference. The public was
invited to listen to the meeting at the Comfort Inn in Tumwater. A
final
agenda and
meeting materials are available.
Board delivers mental health report
Mental Health—A Public Health
Approach: Developing a Prevention-Oriented Mental Health System in
Washington State is a Board report prepared for Washington’s Mental
Health Transformation Project. The report contains a comprehensive analysis
of important components of a prevention-oriented mental health system for
Washington State. It was developed with the guidance of the Prevention
Advisory Group of the Mental Health Transformation Project, and it was
delivered to the Transformation Project on December 31, 2007.
Board discussed newborn screening, scoliosis
At its January 9 meeting in
Tumwater, the Board heard updates on the work of the Newborn Screening
Advisory Committee, which is reviewing 17 conditions the Board may add to
the list of required screenings, and the Governor’s Interagency Council on
Health Disparities. It also reviewed a draft of the 2008 State Health
Report. After discussing issues that are likely to come before the 2008
Legislature, it considered a policy statement that will guide its actions
during session. It was also briefed on proposed legislation to eliminate
mandatory scoliosis screenings in schools. A
final agenda and
meeting materials are
available.
Governor reappoints Board Member Mel Tonasket
Mel Tonasket of Omak has
been reappointed to a term effective December 6, 2007, ending July 1, 2010.
Tonasket is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribal Council, the Public
Health Improvement Plan steering committee and the State Advisory Committee
for the Department of Social and Health Services and is on the board of
directors for United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and for Okanogan
Regional Home Health and Hospice. He was Paschal Sherman Indian School
chairman of the board and was president (two terms) and vice president (one
term) of the National Congress of American Indians. Tonasket was a member of
the congressional American Indian Policy Review Commission and represented
U.S. tribal governments at the World Council of Indigenous Peoples and at
the Inter-American Indigenous Conference in Brazil.
Board met with King County Board of Health,
discussed mental health report
The Board’s December 13 meeting in Seattle included a joint meeting
with the King County Board of Health. The Board reviewed the draft mental
health report and heard about mental health services in King County. Other
items included reviews of the draft 2007 Annual Report and proposed framework
for the 2008 State Health Report and a briefing on its decontamination of
illegal drug manufacturing or storage sites rule. The boards also shared
their work plans. A
final agenda and
meeting materials are available.
