News Release

September 21, 2023

WIC program receives funding to increase participation

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department has been awarded a $432,638 grant to implement a WIC Community Innovation and Outreach (WIC CIAO) Project. This award is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It aims to support efforts to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative outreach strategies to increase awareness, participation, and benefit redemption in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and reduce disparities in program delivery.

“Too many women and children in Alabama are missing out on the nutrition they need in order to thrive,” said Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “We are proud to be part of this critical initiative to identify new ways of connecting people to WIC.”

MCHD was selected through a highly competitive grant process. The WIC CIAO project aims to expand partnerships with community organizations and use community-level data to develop and implement innovative WIC outreach efforts. The MCHD project seeks to improve retention of WIC families after infants turn 1-year-old and increase WIC enrollment, prioritizing Black and Latino families in Mobile County.

MCHD will focus on partnerships with health clinics and providers, establishing new relationships and strengthening existing ones through online referral forms and improved outreach materials.

MCHD will work with the University of South Alabama’s Anthropology Department to plan and hold six culturally responsive focus groups to understand barriers to participation, utilization of benefits, and ways to retain more families. Focus groups will be tailored to meet the needs of the priority populations and interviewers, and materials will be available in the primary language of participants.

Lessons learned from the project will inform other long-standing WIC agencies’ efforts to use community data to reimagine promotion and outreach strategies for underserved populations.

In 2020, only 50 percent of all eligible individuals nationwide participated in WIC, equating to a shortfall of almost 6 million individuals. The WIC CIAO Project aims to change that by expanding partnerships with community organizations and using community-level data to develop and implement innovative WIC outreach efforts.

MCHD’s Office of Nutrition Services manages the local WIC program. A monthly average of 10,546 participants received WIC food instruments during the Fiscal Year 2022. To qualify for WIC, a person must meet income guidelines, be a resident of Alabama, and have been seen by a health professional at the WIC clinic. For more information, visit https://mchd.org/wic or call 251-690-8829.

Additional information on WIC is available from the MCHD mobile app. You can find the referral form link under the “More tab” or visit the following link to download the app – https://apps.myocv.com/share/a65536603.

September 15, 2023

MCHD moving location for Religious Exemptions

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department will cease COVID-19 operations at the Festival Centre location (3725 Airport Boulevard, Suite 101-A, in Mobile) on Friday, September 29. This decision also marks the end of MCHD’s in-home vaccination program.

The Festival Centre has also served as the site for individuals seeking Religious Exemptions from vaccinations required by the state for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Those services will be moving to the Keeler Memorial Building (251 North Bayou Street, Room 226, in Mobile) starting on Monday, October 2.

Religious Exemptions will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Call 251-690-8868 for additional information.

A Religious Exemption certificate can only be issued by a county health department. The parent or legal guardian must submit a written objection and receive education on the consequences of not immunizing their child. Parents and legal guardians interested in requesting a Religious Exemption must do so in person. They will be charged an administrative document fee of $30 per child to receive the Certificate of Religious Exemption.

For information on childhood vaccines, please visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization or https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/why-vaccinate/vaccine-decision.html.

A Certificate of Medical Exemption from school-required immunizations must be obtained from a licensed physician.

September 15, 2023

Community Health Issues Survey to be discussed

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department’s Health Equity Office (HEO) is joining the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to host a State Health Assessment Community Conversation in Mobile. The event will be Monday, Sept. 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Ben May Main Library’s Bernheim Hall (701 Government Street).

The 2023 Community Health Issues Survey is part of the State Health Assessment that ADPH utilizes to identify health issues in challenges on the county and community level. Previously in 2019, the survey was used to identify 14 top health concerns for Alabama. From this information, ADPH can better serve based on the highest needs.

The survey is for those older than 18 years old, and it should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. All responses will need to be completed by November 30.

The organizers need the community’s input on health concerns facing them to ensure that all groups work together to have healthy communities. Please share this flyer with other community organizations that are working to alleviate health disparities in local communities.

In 2021, the HEO was established to address health disparities in Mobile County. The HEO team is responsible for evaluating internal and external programs and policies, identifying weaknesses, and laying a foundation for serving vulnerable communities through a health equity lens.

For more information on the Community Health Issues Survey, visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/healthrankings/community.html.

September 14, 2023

CDC announces changes for COVID-19 vaccine

MOBILE, Ala. — Earlier this week, the Food & Drug Administration amended emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna to include approval of the 2023-2024 formula (monovalent XBB.1.5).

This means the Bivalent vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the United States. As a result, the Mobile County Health Department cannot offer COVID-19 vaccine at this time. An exact date for when Family Health, the primary care division of MCHD, will receive the new vaccine has not been determined.

Since its inception in 1979, Family Health has provided services to the uninsured, underinsured, insured, and medically underserved populations of Mobile County. In addition to the general population, the center has also targeted special populations (such as migrant and seasonal workers, refugees, public housing residents, and people living with HIV/AIDS).

“The vaccines.gov website is an excellent resource for searching for available vaccines nearest your location,” said Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels.

CDC recommends everyone six months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can improve protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.

Last season, those who received a 2022-2023 COVID-19 vaccine saw greater protection against illness and hospitalization than those who did not receive a 2022-2023 vaccine. Hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

September 8, 2023

Human cases of West Nile Virus reported

MOBILE, Ala. — Two additional cases of human West Nile Virus (WNV), which is a form of mosquito-borne encephalitis, have been confirmed in Mobile County, according to Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County.

This is the third and fourth human cases reported in Mobile County this year. Because of patient privacy rights under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), no additional identifying information will be available.

Humans with WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases often have symptoms of high fever, severe headache, nausea, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness, paralysis, disorientation, and seizures that are severe enough to require medical attention. In rare cases, WNV can cause coma or death. The seriousness of an illness may depend on a person’s health and age. WNV affects the elderly most severely, health data shows.

The risk of encephalitis spread by mosquitoes is highest from August through the first freeze in the fall. Vector Services will increase spraying and conduct door-to-door surveys in the immediate areas. Inspectors will also attempt to trap adult mosquitoes and test them for the presence of WNV.

Dr. Michaels warns that it is extremely important that people taking part in outdoor activities make every effort to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes and should always keep mosquito repellent with them when outdoors. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and again at dawn. He goes on to advise that draining standing water will stop mosquitoes from multiplying, cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house and cover skin with clothing or appropriate repellent.

WNV is transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Mosquitoes can spread these viruses by feeding on the blood of infected birds and then biting another host animal or mammal, such as a human or a horse.

Although humans and horses can become ill from the infection, the disease cannot be spread from people or horses. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) vaccines in horses. There are no WNV or EEE vaccines available for humans.

A new online portal is now available to help the public request assistance from Vector Services and receive feedback on their request to deal with mosquitoes or rodents. To learn more about the department, you may visit https://mchd.org/vector-control. From there, you can find a link and a QR code to access the new online portal for ordering services.

The telephone numbers for those without internet access are 251-690-8124 for Mosquito Control and 251-690-8819 for Rodent Control.

September 5, 2023

Events planned for National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

MOBILE, Ala. — September has been designated as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month by Congress to help direct attention to the need for research and treatment of sickle cell disease. During September, MCHD’s Health Equity Office will partner with the Mobile Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America as they host events to advance these efforts.

WHAT is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?
Sickle cell disease is a life-long blood disorder that is inherited from parents the same way individuals get their eye color, skin, and hair. This disease affects the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, which is responsible for transporting oxygen to all parts of the body. Healthy, normal red blood cells are round and smooth, moving through the blood vessels easily. However, individuals with sickle cell disease have hard, sticky, banana-shaped red blood cells that resemble a farm tool called a “sickle.” Sickle cells have difficulty moving through the blood vessels, resulting in clogging of the vessel. When this happens, blood flow is blocked, and the blood cannot deliver enough oxygen to organs in the body. Sickle cells also die early compared to non-sickle cells, causing a constant shortage of red bloods cells in individuals with this disease.

WHO is Affected by Sickle Cell Disease?
SCD is estimated to affect 90,000 to 100,000 people in the United States, mainly African Americans. It occurs in about 1 of every 500 African American births and 1 of every 36,000 Hispanic American births. Getting screened to know your sickle cell status is extremely important at child-bearing age since SCD is passed down to children through their parents’ genes.

HOW is Sickle Cell Disease Treated?
There are different types of sickle cell disease, with some causing less problems than others. Some of the most common complications of SCD are severe pain episodes, serious infections, eye disease, organ damage, and stroke. To date, the only cure for SCD is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, which is very risky and can have serious side effects. Treatment differs for different people depending on symptoms, and there is no single best treatment for all people with SCD. Treatment may include receiving blood transfusions, IV therapy, or medications to help with pain. Individuals with sickle cell disease can live full lives provided they learn healthy lifestyle habits, follow precautions, and seek regular checkups and treatment.

One way we all can contribute to this cause is to donate blood at local community blood drives.

Some of the events Sickle Cell Disease Association of America – Mobile Chapter has planned to highlight SCD this month are:

• Get Up and Move: Sickle Cell Disease & Exercise – Thursday, September 7, at 5:30 p.m., Mobile Women’s Federation Club, 400 N Catherine Street
• Alpha Phi Alpha Blood Drive – Saturday, September 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Franklin Primary Care Medical Mall, 1303 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
• 2023 Strike for Sickle Cell Bowling Fundraiser – Thursday, September 14, at 6 p.m., AMF Camellia Lanes, 125 North Schillinger Road

August 30, 2023

National Community Health Worker Awareness Week taking place

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) is observing National Community Health Worker Awareness Week. This is the first-ever national campaign to celebrate and commemorate the roles, impact on communities and leadership of CHW’s.

According to the American Public Health Association, CHW’s are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a link between health/social services and the community they serve, facilitating access to services and improving the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

In August 2021, MCHD’s Prevention and Wellness directorate was granted funding from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention titled Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities. The funding was awarded to strengthen the number of community health workers in Mobile County as a response to the decrease in COVID-19 testing and vaccination rates, as well as help in addressing health disparities. Although the services provided by CHWs were not new to MCHD, this program was designed to increase the number of certified community health workers in Mobile County.

CHW’s are trusted members of the community who help individuals, families, and communities enhance their health, receive access to health and social services, and improve the conditions for health equity, especially in low-income and marginalized communities. They play a vital role in connecting with and empowering the communities in which they live, work, and play.

To date, the CHW program has certified 32 community health workers from MCHD, the University of South Alabama Centers for Healthy Communities, and other community-based organizations. In addition, the CHW staff participated in and hosted various community outreach events throughout the county, which resulted in reaching more than 3,900 community members.