Risk of Serious Flu Complications in the Elderly
Elderly populations, aged 65 and older, are at risk for developing serious flu complications when compared with healthy, young adults. Adults older than 65, adults with chronic conditions (asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and children younger than 5 are at an increased risk in serious complications related to the flu. An estimated 70 or 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths were those...
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
The most commonly inherited blood disorder continues to have difficulties in high quality treatment options for adults living with the disease. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), an intensely painful blood disorder caused by red blood cells having an abnormal, sickle shape, affects over 100,000 United States citizens of all ethnicities but disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic populations,...
CDC Releases Updated Monkeypox Vaccine Information Statement
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an updated Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS) for smallpox/monkeypox. Monkeypox is an emerging infection currently spreading around the world, including in the United States. While monkeypox tends to be milder than smallpox, it can cause death. The VIS answers the question, “Why get vaccinated for smallpox/monkeypox?” The...
Econometrica Develops CDBG Toolkit for HUD
Econometrica has developed a complete toolkit that enables communities to conduct a local income survey that meets the guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for allocating Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. CDBG funds can be used to improve local infrastructure and meet other community needs, and some communities are required to...
Overweight and Obesity
Obesity plays a significant role in health and healthcare, with studies showing that obesity increases a person’s chances of chronic disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Studies have also shown that African American men and women have the highest rates of obesity among U.S. racial/ethnic groups. When taking a holistic view of health equity, though, it is...