Getting screened for colorectal cancer is something Idahoans aged 45 and older should consider because it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among adults in Idaho. In fact, 3,194 cases of malignant colorectal cancer were diagnosed among Idahoans from 2015-2019, and sadly, a little more than 3 in 10 Idahoans diagnosed with colorectal cancer died from their cancer within 5 years. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to talk to your doctor about your screening options. Screening and early detection save lives!

Who should be screened?

It is recommended that everyone should get screened starting at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should talk to your medical provider about getting screened earlier. All Idaho adults should get into the habit of regular screenings.

Why is screening so important?

As with all cancers, the key is to find it early. Your chances of beating the disease and surviving are better. You don’t have to have a family history of colon cancer to be at risk. Colorectal cancer can begin anywhere in the large intestine as pre-cancerous polyps, with no symptoms.

Is a colonoscopy the only reliable test you can do?

No, there are several different kinds of tests are available and the best test is the one that gets done! You can choose from a variety of screening methods, including those that can be done each year from the comfort of your home. There are advantages and disadvantages for each one, so you should talk to your doctor about which is right for you. It’s also important to know that preventing colon cancer or finding it early doesn’t have to be expensive. Simple, affordable tests are available, and most health insurance plans cover the life-saving, preventative tests.

Who is at risk for colon cancer?

The risk increases for everyone as we get older, and we know there’s an increased risk for people who are 45 or older, who smoke, who don’t get enough physical activity, or who are obese. Alcohol and tobacco use also increase risk. Inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease) also increases a person’s risk for colon cancer.

What can we do to reduce the risk?

Besides getting screened regularly if you are 45 or older, you can keep your colon healthy by eating foods that are high in fiber, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. 

Additional resources:

• Idaho’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/about-comprehensive-cancer-control-program
• CDC’s colorectal (colon) cancer site: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm
• For cancer survivors: Staying well during COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/staying-well-during-covid-19.htm

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

During 2021, we continued to serve Idahoans during the pandemic. Even though COVID-19 dominated the airwaves and remained top of mind for our employees and the public, there were many other services to provide and needs to be met. Whatever the need is – financial, physical, or mental – we are here to serve Idahoans.

One thing has remained consistent, even during the pandemic, and that is our employees’ commitment to serve. When you work in the public sector, it is a labor of love. Our employees feel called to this work, and it is honor for us to serve the people of Idaho.

One of the ways we demonstrate and highlight our work is through the annual report. This is the third year we’ve done this report, and it is the story of the work behind the department’s strategic plan. The annual report highlights how we serve Idahoans, innovate for the future, and collaborate with other stakeholders.

The 2021 Annual Report is now available on the DHW website at: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=21566&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS

I hope you will take time to read it. You will find information about how we are:

• Transforming Idaho’s behavioral healthcare system
• Training Idahoans to help prevent suicide
• Improving our process for background checks to support employers
• Using value-based payments in our Medicaid program to help Idahoans become healthier
• Addressing the root causes of poor health through Get Healthy Idaho
• Increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in Idaho
• Educating healthcare providers to help prevent opioid overdoses
• Increasing access to quality child care for Idaho families
• Securing data from breaches
• Giving a voice to people at the end of their lives through the Idaho Healthcare Registry
• And so much more.

The annual report just touches on a few of the many programs and services we offer to Idahoans. For more detailed information on the work we do, you can review our 2021 Facts, Figures & Trends.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend. 

Things are looking better on the COVID-19 front than they have in a long time, and we’re all ready to shed some of those precautions we’ve been taking for so long. However, the virus is still circulating, and we need to continue to manage our risk.

It’s important to remember that the virus will continue to mutate as it circulates even at low levels in communities, and the precautions you take in  some situations might not be effective in others. You will need to weigh your personal risk and take appropriate precautions. Keeping up to date on COVID-19 vaccines provides the most consistent protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19.

The following are things to keep in mind to stay safe and healthy as we loosen up a bit and plan vacations and gatherings in the months to come.

What are the things I need to know if I’m traveling in the United States?

• Don’t travel if you are sick.
• Masks are still required in public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. Find out more about the requirement here: https://bit.ly/3m68x2R
• Check the COVID-19 risk at your destination so you know how to pack and the precautions you will have to take: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
• If you travel on an airplane, wear a mask and wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol: https://bit.ly/3fauXgJ
• If you get COVID-19 while traveling, you’ll likely be expected to stay in place until you’re well. The best ways to avoid getting sick while traveling is to make sure you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and by wearing a mask in public places.

What do I need to know if I am traveling outside the United States?

• If you’re not sick, and you're planning a trip overseas, make sure you’re up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, and then check the COVID-19 risk at your destination: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list
• Plan ahead: In addition to any testing requirements your destination may have, you'll be required to show a negative COVID-19 test, taken no more than one day before returning to the United States.
• People who have recovered from COVID-19 can safely travel if they tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days and have met criteria to end isolation.
• Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html

What should I keep in mind as I plan a gathering?

• If you want to spend time with people who don’t live with you, gathering outdoors is the safer choice. You are less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 during outdoor activities, even without the use of masks.
• Good ventilation can help prevent you from getting and spreading COVID-19.
• Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• Follow the new CDC guidance about community level risk.  If the COVID-19 Community Level where you live is
  • Low
    • Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.
  • Medium
    • If you are at risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about wearing masks indoors in public places.
    • If you live with or will gather with someone at risk for severe illness, wear a mask when indoors with them.
  • High
    • For those 2 years old or older, wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk (including in K-12 schools and other community settings).
    • If you are at risk for severe illness, wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection.
• If you are around people and don’t know if they are vaccinated or vulnerable to severe COVID-19 outcomes, you can lower the overall risk of spreading COVID-19 between you and them by making sure you're up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and wearing a good quality mask.
• More things to consider: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/gatherings.html

Elke Shaw-Tulloch is the administrator of the Division of Public Health, and the state’s Public Health Officer. She has worked for the department since 1996 and was promoted to division administrator in 2012. Since February 2020, she has focused a majority of her time on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Making progress toward Strategic Goal 4: Strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the Department of Health and Welfare

Protecting the health, safety, and independence of Idaho’s most vulnerable populations is a crucial task entrusted to Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) staff. The department’s background check is required for people who work in more than 40 programs that provide direct care for participants who are children, disabled, or elderly. These programs include nursing homes, long-term care facilities, day care facilities, foster care homes, potential adoptive families, residential care facilities for children and adults, Emergency Medical Services, and more.

And as Idaho’s population continues to grow, the criminal background check system has come under increasing pressure. From Feb. 1, 2021, to Feb. 1, 2022, a team of about 15 staff in the department’s Criminal History Unit (CHU) completed more than 31,000 applicant background checks for Idahoans applying to work with children and vulnerable adults.

With ever-increasing demands on the aging, paper-based background check system, DHW staff are now working to improve the system and make sure that thorough, accurate checks can be completed more quickly.

In addition to Idaho’s population growth, the current employment situation has increased the urgency of making improvements to the background check system. Many employers in Idaho are struggling to hire staff. By making sure background checks are accurate and timely, DHW is helping employers deliver high quality care to their clients by making sure they have an adequate pool of qualified staff to serve their needs.

Criminal History Background Check System Modernization

The Criminal History Unit (CHU) currently uses an aging online system that customers use to apply for background checks. DHW staff use the same system for screening customers. The goals of CHU modernization are to provide a better customer experience, better automation for staff, and an improved system support for everyone who used it.

Traditionally, background checks, on average, take 20 to 25 days to complete, depending on various factors. CHU conducted a process improvement project in 2021, with the aim of improving the timeliness of checks without  sacrificing quality.

In August, the DHW team and partners met to take a thorough look at how criminal history checks are conducted. The team investigated whether there are processes that can be improved now and will also be compatible with a new system when it is implemented.

In 2021, CHU successfully applied to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for federal grant funding. The funding is being used to cover the cost of project management and process improvement activities. It is also being used for custom development for a new federally sourced system that will be available in early 2023.

The background check system replacement project will move the department to a cloud-hosted system. The new system will improve the experience for employers, and for customers applying for background checks. An online payment system is one of the improvements that will likely be possible in the new system. The new system will also automate many of the processes used by CHU to screen applicants, which will also speed things up.

We are confident this improved system will help applicants and their employers by reducing the amount of time it takes to receive a clearance, and by improving the customer experience for those applying for a background check. Meanwhile, Idaho’s increasing population will be better served by a workforce that has been thoroughly vetted through the department’s criminal history background check process.

You can read more about the DHW Strategic Plan on our website.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

At the Department of Health and Welfare, we have a new and important program called Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). It is designed to increases awareness of risk-reduction and early-detection methods for Idahoans when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

Alzheimer’s Disease, a common cause of dementia, is the seventh leading cause of death in Idaho, and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. There are an estimated 6.2 million Americans, over the age of 65, currently living with this disease.

In 2020, there were 27,000 Idahoans over 65 living with Alzheimer’s. That number is expected to increase to 33,000 by 2025.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a debilitating condition that slowly destroys brain function, resulting in memory loss, behavior changes, and a decline in functional ability. This disease is not only devastating to the person, but also to the family members who provide the person’s financial, physical, and emotional care.

In 2020, Idaho’s Office of Performance Evaluations recommended that Idaho help support families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Idaho leaders knew they had to focus on this disease, as it is not only devastating to Idaho families, but it also increases the cost of community and residential care, healthcare, and the demand for formal and informal caregiver services.

In November 2021, an alliance of stakeholders (called ADRD Alliance) was formed to represent Idaho. One of the alliance’s pressing goals is to revise the 2013 state plan to help guide Idaho’s direction of addressing ADRD. The alliance charter was adopted this month.

 In 2021, the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Steering Committee was formed and includes representatives from the Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA), a geriatrician/subject matter expert from North Idaho, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Idaho Chapter, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Idaho, Idaho Caregiver Alliance (ICA), and Boise State University’s (BSU) Center for the Study of Aging (CSA). The steering committee provides the ADRD Alliance advice, support, and guidance as they progress with the revision of the 5-year state plan. 

The department’s Division of Public Health also hired a team to make sure information and resources are available to those in Idaho who are caring for Idahoans living with Alzheimer’s Disease, that Idahoans are educated on the benefits of early detection and risk-reduction methods, and that Idaho is working to address ADRD and brain health as a united front. At present, the team is developing strategies for outreach, collaborative efforts, and public health education and awareness campaigns.

Currently, Boise State University is working with the department to assess Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias in Idaho. A few specific areas of focus are rural clinic response to ADRD, how higher educational institutions are preparing healthcare teams to interact with ADRD, and what resources or supports are available or unavailable in our communities across the state. The results of this assessment will be used to develop a five-year plan as well as guide initiatives and programs.

I am grateful for the team at DHW working to support those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and to the Idaho Legislature for their support as we all serve Idahoans.

You can find more information on Alzheimer’s Disease and the department’s program on our website:

• Disease specific - https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease-and-related-dementias
• ADRD Alliance - https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/about-dhw/boards-councils-committees/idaho-alzheimers-disease-and-related-dementias-adrd-alliance

I hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend.

As of Feb. 14, there are at least 32,100 outstanding positive lab reports that have not been reviewed by the local public health districts. Many of those lab records will result in new cases of COVID-19 being added to the dashboard. However, some reports are additional test results for a person already counted as a case and some might be for people who do not live in Idaho. Daily new case counts will be updated as those outstanding positive lab reports and recently received lab reports are processed.

Why are there so many outstanding positive lab results?

There are outstanding lab results because of the sheer number of people in Idaho who were testing positive for COVID-19. Lab records must be reviewed by the local public health districts before they can tell if the result represents a new Idaho case and in what Idaho county that case should be assigned.    

Which local public health districts are behind in reviewing the lab results from their counties?

During the week of January 16, more than 38,000 positive lab reports were sent to public health districts in Idaho. During that week, there were periods of time when more than 1,000 lab reports were being sent in a single hour. During the peak, public health districts were receiving the same number of lab reports in a single hour that they had been receiving in a whole day before the Omicron variant surge.

Each public health district has its own way of reviewing lab tests and following up on them. The Department of Health and Welfare is providing technical assistance to some of the public health districts at their request to help them catch up. Here’s a chart showing the number of outstanding positive electronic lab results in each public health district, as of 3 p.m., Monday, February 14.

Do the outstanding results represent cases?

It’s important to note that one positive lab result may not represent one case. Some results might not be for people who live in Idaho, but were tested here. About 5 percent of lab results are for people with two results within one to three days of each other. A person might have an antigen test in the doctor’s office and then have a follow-up PCR test to confirm the result. Some people might have two PCR test results a couple of days apart. This may be because a person needs a test result quickly for travel or attending events and wants to be sure their result arrives in time. It could also be because they took a second test because they are hoping the result of the first test they took is wrong.

And finally, a positive result doesn’t count as a new case if that person has had a positive result less than 90 days ago because they can still test positive for the virus even after they are no longer sick.

That’s why the review by the public health district is so important.

How are the outstanding results being incorporated into the data on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard?

COVID-19 cases  are counted in the new daily totals when they are reported to the state. That means some new daily cases counts will be higher than they would have been if the case had been counted when the positive lab result was received.

However, daily new case counts are only a “snapshot” of the moment when the data are prepared for the state dashboard update published at 5 p.m. each day. There will always be a time delay between when a lab report is received and when a new case is counted  because lab reports are received 24 hours a day. For instance, if a lab report is received at 4 p.m. on a Thursday, it might not be counted as a case on the dashboard until Monday. This was true even before the Omicron variant surge because most public health districts don’t operate overnight and on weekends.

The positive lab results are counted in the percent positivity rates that are available on the Laboratory Testing tab of the dashboard. And even though some public health districts have a large number of positive lab reports to process from the peak in mid-to late January, they have been keeping up with new lab reports for the last two weeks; current case rates on the Weekly Hotspots and Local Trends tab of the dashboard are accurate.  

Dr. Kathryn Turner is the deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health in the Department of Health and Welfare. She has worked for the department for 17 years and oversees the Epidemiology, Immunization, Food Protection, Communicable Disease Surveillance, and Refugee Health Screening programs for the division, but has been focused almost entirely on Idaho’s pandemic response since February 2020.

Stay up to date with the latest and most accurate information on COVID-19:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

It is my honor to serve the people of Idaho.

I became the director of Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) in January 2019. I came to state government from the private sector, and I looked forward to a new challenge. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was committed to do my best to help Idahoans live their best lives by supporting DHW employees as they do the real work.

I didn’t know how much it would actually change my life. Working at DHW has brought me closer to the “why” I work. It has shown me that I want my career to have meaning, that I want to serve, and that I want to make a difference in the lives of Idahoans. DHW has allowed me to do those things.

And, then the pandemic came along and challenged me and all DHW employees to innovate how we serve Idahoans, develop a flexible work environment, and provide information to help all Idahoans make informed decisions and cope with the pandemic in their own ways.

The pandemic fundamentally changed the workplace because it changed the “why” of work for many people. There has been a “great resignation” across the United States as employees search for true fulfilment in their lives and their careers. This once-in-a-lifetime event has caused people to pause and take a fresh look at how they want to spend their time and energy when it comes to their careers.

If you are searching for fulfillment in your career, DHW is a place where you can make an impact in the lives of others and the community where you live. It is a place of empathy and compassion – both for our own employees and those we serve.

That brings me back to the “why” of work. In our 2021 employee engagement survey, 92 percent of our employees indicated that the work they do is personally important to them.

The work of our employees means something to them.

Let me share part of a note we received about one of our employees from an Idahoan he served:

“…He’s as tenacious as they come, intelligent, and has never given up on us in more than a year. He was always available to my daughter and I, which in my world was unheard of. His strength and knowledge is incredible in every way imaginable. When it appeared our prospects where dim, he stepped right up and made sure we were safe.”

Our work means something to the people of Idaho, too.

If your “why” is helping Idahoans live their best lives – by connecting people to social, financial, and behavioral health services, or perhaps supporting children and families in our foster care system, or maybe providing support and information during public health crises – working at DHW is a perfect fit for you.

If you want to help, encourage, and lift up the vulnerable citizens of our state, we are your “why.” If you are interested in a career change that will provide meaning to you, and others, please visit our DHW website careers page and see how you can be of service to your neighbors and communities.

I hope you all safe and healthy weekend.

The number of children ages 5-11 years vaccinated against COVID-19 in Idaho remains very low, at less than 15 percent. We understand  parents have questions about the vaccines and how safe they are for their children. Please consider the information below, and talk to your child’s healthcare provider about any additional concerns you might have.

Pfizer and BioNTech have asked the FDA  to amend the emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to include children younger than 5 years. It is important for parents of young children to be confident that the vaccines continue to be safe and effective at consistently preventing serious COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and even death.

Why is the vaccine needed if children have milder symptoms?

While children do generally fare better than adults, they are as likely to be infected with COVID-19 as adults and can:

• Get very sick from COVID-19
• Have both short- and long-term health effects from COVID-19, including long COVID
• Spread COVID-19 to others at home and school and other locations

As of mid-October 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children ages 5 through 11 years have experienced more than 8,300 COVID-19-related hospitalizations and nearly 100 deaths from COVID-19. In fact, according to the CDC, COVID-19 may rank as one of the top 10 causes of death for children ages 5 through 11 years. In Idaho, 334 children have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and two  have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Children who get infected with COVID-19 also can develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) — a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Since the pandemic began, more than 2,300 cases of MIS-C have been reported in children ages 5 through 11 years, including 18 in Idaho.

Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with children without underlying medical conditions.

Vaccines have been shown to prevent COVID-19 infection and its complications in children, including severe illness, hospitalization, and death.  

Are the vaccines safe for children ages 5-11?

COVID-19 vaccines are being monitored for safety with the most comprehensive and intense safety monitoring program in U.S. history. The CDC monitors the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines after they are authorized or approved for use, including the risk of myocarditis in children ages 5 through 11 years.

• Your child may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including flu vaccine, at the same time.
• Serious health events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare.

Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have been reported after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 12–17 years. During clinical trials, no cases of myocarditis occurred in children ages 5 through 11 years who received the COVID-19 vaccine.

• A severe allergic reaction, like anaphylaxis, may happen after any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, but this is rare.
• Your child cannot get COVID-19 infection from any COVID-19 vaccine, including the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Learn more about how mRNA vaccines, like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, work.
• There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.

When will vaccines be approved for children younger than 5?

Pfizer and BioNTech have started the process to receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months of age and older but younger than 5 years. They submitted data to FDA to support their request on February 1. No one knows for sure how long that will take, but it could be as soon as the end of February.

Here’s a good description of the process: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/02/1077376625/covid-vaccine-kids-under-5

Moderna is also currently in clinical trials for a vaccine for children younger than 5 and plans to submit data to the FDA in March.

Will children need a booster?

We don’t know yet if children younger than 5 years will need a booster. We will know more after the FDA finishes reviewing the data for the COVID-19 vaccine for this age group.

A booster is currently recommended for everyone 12 years and older who are fully vaccinated. Boosters are not currently recommended for children ages 5-11. Learn more about staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Dr. Christine Hahn is Idaho’s state epidemiologist and the Division of Public Health’s medical director. She is board certified in infectious disease and works in the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho’s tuberculosis clinic twice monthly. She also serves on CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and since late February 2020, has been focusing almost solely on responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Stay up to date with the latest and most accurate information on COVID-19:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Misinformation is circulating in Idaho across social media and other communication channels that could be, unfortunately, harmful to the health of Idahoans.

You cannot catch COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s impossible, and this information currently circulating on social media is completely false. The false information being shared states that partially vaccinated people are catching COVID-19 from their first dose of the vaccine, and they are filling up the hospitals.

Why is this false information?

1. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain live virus, so it is impossible for the COVID-19 vaccine to cause someone to have COVID-19. 

So why do people think this is happening? Because it takes a couple of weeks for your immune system to respond to the vaccine after the first dose. During those couple of weeks, it is possible for someone to be exposed and become infected with the virus. If someone does get infected after their first dose, it has nothing to do with the vaccine itself. It is because they were exposed to the virus from another person.

2. The data shows that if you are vaccinated, you are less likely to become severely ill or hospitalized.

In Idaho, 8,033 cases were hospitalized for COVID-19 from Jan. 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021, and:  

• • • 89.6% had no vaccine when they became ill 
    • 1.5% were partially vaccinated (received one dose of a two-dose series) when they became ill 
    • 8.9% were fully vaccinated when they became ill 

COVID-19 research is evolving

One of the reasons that disinformation and misinformation has been rampant during the pandemic is because this is a new virus. New information is being shared as research 

expands, and researchers continue to learn more about this virus. New information often leads to uncertainty, and being human, we like certainty. I would encourage you to look for the truth, follow the science, and listen to reliable sources. There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation across social media and other communications channels, and it is not helpful; it is harmful. 

Who are the reliable sources?

• The Department of Health and Welfare: it is our responsibility and obligation to share accurate and timely information with all Idahoans. You can visit our website, and we also post factual COVID-19 information daily on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Trusted healthcare providers: If you have questions, talk to your doctor or another trusted healthcare professional
• Idaho’s Coronavirus Website: see the most current data on cases, vaccine, and more.
• CDC Coronavirus Disease Website

As the information and recommendations evolve and as we continue to learn more, we will share that with you so you can make informed decisions.

I hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend.

Idaho is feeling the effects of a nationwide shortage of blood, driven by a variety of factors. It’s the worst shortage in more than a decade, according to the American Red Cross. The shortage is helping fuel the need for part of the state to be in crisis standards of care.

Why is there a shortage of blood?

There are several reasons, but the main ones are:

• Blood drives have been cancelled because of weather, because of appointment cancellations, and because of staffing challenges.
• People are not giving blood the way they did before the pandemic, presumably because they have concerns about COVID-19.
• Significant staffing shortages are being caused by COVID-19. The volunteers and workers needed to staff a donation drive are facing the same challenges with COVID-19 illnesses themselves and with their families and friends that hospitals’ staff are facing. If someone is exposed or sick with COVID-19, they can’t work at a blood donation clinic. They also can’t work a clinic if they need to stay home with their children because they were exposed, or their schools are closed.
• The staffing shortages affect not only blood collection, but also blood processing, transportation, and the rest of the supply chain needed to process the blood and get it to the hospitals that need it.

What are hospitals doing to conserve blood?

Hospitals are managing with a limited supply of blood and blood products and are implementing blood conservation protocols. They are reporting daily on their blood product inventory and are supporting the sharing of their limited resources as much as possible.

Who can give blood?

There are some requirements blood donors must meet to ensure the health and safety of patients and donors, including feeling well and being in good health, being at least 16 years old, and weighing at least 110 pounds. See a more detailed list of requirements at: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

Where can I go to give blood?

You can:

• visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/red-cross-national-blood-shortage-crisis.html and search for blood donation drives by Zip code to find one near you
• use the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment
• donate through America’s Blood Supply by calling 202-393-5725 or visit americasblood.org

If you schedule an appointment, be sure to keep that appointment as every opening is important.

Elke Shaw-Tulloch is the administrator of the Division of Public Health, and the state’s Public Health Officer. She has worked for the department since 1996 and was promoted to division administrator in 2012.  Since February 2020, she has focused a majority of her time on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Stay up to date with the latest and most accurate information on COVID-19:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• Idaho Rebounds website
• One.Idaho.gov

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates and information you can trust.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.